'^M 


.S65 


vT  2.5/0: 

Srom  f  3e  &i6rart  of 
(]f)tofeB0or  Wiffiam  J5^^^)5  (Breen 

f^e  Ei6rate  of 
(jf)rinceton  C^eofo^icaf  ^eminarg 


C£^-^m-a-^/^' 


HEBREW  GRAMMAR, 

WITHOUT   POINTS: 


DESIGNED 


TO  FACILITATE  THE   STUDY 

OV   THE 

SCRIPTURES 

or    THE 

OLD     TESTAMENT, 
3[n  tje  iDtiginal ; 


AND  PARTICULARLY  ADAPTED  TO  THE  USE  OF  THOSE 
WHO  MAY  NOT  HAVE  INSTRUCTORS. 


^ 


BY   JOHN   SMITH,  A.M. 

Profeffor  of  the  Learned  Languages,  at  Dartmouth  College. 


PUBLISHED    ACCORDING    TO    ACT    OF    CONGRESS. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED    BY    DAriD    CARLISLE, 

For  JOHN  WEST,  No.  75,  Cornhill. 
1803. 


// 


tDij^tria:  of  Betol)ainp0lnrc— TO  wit  : 

BE  it  remembered, /^fl/  on  the  fourth  day  of  January,  in  the  twen- 
ty feventh  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America., 
JOHN  ?>Mmi,  of  the  faid  Di/lrict,  hath  depoftted  in  this  office  the 
title  of  a  Book,  the  right  luhereof  he  claims  as  Author,  in  the  tuords 
following,  to  wit,  "  A  Hebrew  Grammar,  without  Points  :  defign- 
cd  to  facilitate  the  ftudy  of  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament,  in 
the  original  ;  and  particularly  adapted  to  the  ufeof  thofe  who  may 
not  have  Inflruftors.  By  John  Smith,  a.m.  ProfeflTor  of  the 
Learned  Languages,  at  Dartmouth  College,"  in  conformity  to  the 
AB  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  United  States,  intituled  "  an  AB  for  the  en- 
couragement of  learning,  by  fecuring  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and 
books  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  fuch  copies  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned." 

joNA.  STEELE,  j^^;'*;f;>'ff|?'-''^ 

L  V  J^ewoamp/aire. 
A  true  copy  of  Record, 
Attefi — JoNA.  Steele,  Clerk. 


TO 

THE  LEARNED  AND  PIOUS 

OF  ALL  DESCRIPTIONS, 

PARTICUl-a,M.r 
IN     THf 

UNITED  STATES  Up  ^ivii^KiCA, 

THIS  GRAivixviii.j^  iS  RESPECTFULLY  IMbCKliiKD, 
By  their  Obedient, 

And  Humble  Servaiu, 

IHE  AUlliOK. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Sect,       1.  Of  Letters  and  Reading.  ---.----.-.-.-.     ^ 

II.  Of  the  Divifion  of  Letters. - 7 

III.  Of  Words    and  their  Divifion 8 

IV.  Of  Nouns  ;    Regimen  ;    Comparifon    of  Adjec- 

tives ;  the  Declenfion  of  Nouns,  <^c, 9 

V.  Of  Prefixes ^ 14 

VI.   Of  Pronouns. -  15 

VII.  Of  Suffixes. 16 

VIII.  Of  Verbs  ;   Declenfion  of  regular  Verbs  ;    Ger- 
unds, i^c. 19 

IX.  Of  Irregular  Verbs.  --- ---  23 

X.  Of  Verbs  with  Suffixes. ---.  3^ 

XI.  Of  the  Verb   IV^ ;  reduplicative,    and  pluriliteral 

Verbs. ._-...--.--  36 

XII.  Of  Particles. ib. 

XIII.  Syntax - - 37 

XIV.  Grammatical   Figures --  41 

XV.  Direftions  for  finding  the  Root  in  Hebrew  Lexi- 
cons.   ---------_.-.--.»-- .  42 

Grammatical Exercifes. 44 

Remarks  on  the  Reading  of  Hebrew.  ------ -  54 


HEBREW   GRAMMAR. 


SECTION    I. 


OF    LETTERS    AND    READING. 

I.  The  Letters  in  Hebrew  are  twenty  two,   of 
which  the  following  table  fhows 


The  Names. 

Form. 

Num. 

Finals. 

DUat. 

Simil. 

Sound  or  Power. 

Aleph 

K 

I 

X 

A,  as  in  all. 

Beth 

3 

2 

D 

B. 

Gimel 

i 

3 

J 

It  ^ar^/,  as  in  go,  give. 

Daleth 

"1 

4 

■n 

D. 

He 

n 

5 

n 

nn 

E,  as  in  me. 

Vau 

1 

6 

'^I 

U,  or  0  in  iomi  •  or  the 

Zain 

7 

7 

r 

Z.                 [French  ou. 

Heth 

n 

8 

n 

H. 

Teth 

D 

9 

»D 

Th,  or  the  Greek  6. 

Yod 

^ 

lO 

1 

I  /o//?-,  or  the  Greek  u. 

Caph 

5 

20 

1  500 

K  ;  or  t  hard,  as  in  came. 

Lamed 

s 

30 

S 

L. 

Mem 

72 

40 

D  600 

a* 

D 

M. 

Nun 

i 

50 

I  700 

N. 

Shamech 

D 

60 

0 

Sh. 

Oin 

V 

70 

i'V 

0  long,  as  in  coU,  ore. 

Pe 

s 

80 

f|  800 

P. 

Zhaddi 

)S 

90 

V  9oot 

Zh,  or  J  in  treafure. 

Quoph 

V 

100 

Qu;attheendofaword,^. 

Res 

"1 

200 

1 

R* 

Sin 

V 

3CO 

S. 

Tau 

n 

400 

n 

nn 

T. 

*  In  Neh.  II.  1 3.  nn  is  ufed  for  on  :  and  in  Ifai.  IX.  7.  naiQV 
for  ni-i7Db.  / 

t  Thoufands  may  be  exprefl^ed  by  a  perpendicular  ftroke,  drawn 
over  the  foUowincr  letters,  M,  3,  :>,  1,  rr,  %  r,  n,  la  :  as,  k,  icco  j  1, 


2000,  &c. 


B 


6  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

2.  Of  the  Hebrew  letters  five  are  vowels  j  viz.  K, 
ri,  %  •>,  &  y  :  all  the  reft  are  confonants.* 

3.  Hebrew  is  read  from  the  right  hand  to  the  left. 

4.  When  two  confonants  come  together,  without 
any  of  the  five  vowels  intervening,  pronounce  them, 
as  if  a  fhort  e  ftood  between  them  f  :  thus,  131  is 
pronounced  deker  ;  1p3,  pequed. 

5.  The  textual  }  vowels  muft  always  be  pronoun- 
ced long  and  ftrong  ;  but  the  fupplied  one,  (hort  and 
quick  y  as,  "Iti^K,  dser  ;  TS1,  debir, 

6.  A  full  flop,  in  Hebrew,  is  expreffed  thus  (;)  §, 

7.  When  two  or  more  vowels  come  together,  they 
are  not  to  coalefce  in  diphthongs,  but  muft  be  pro- 
nounced diftindly  ;  as,  *iT]^,be6,  not  beu  :  n"\n'»,  leoe, 
four  diftindt  fyllables. 

8.  Illufti-ation  of  the  foregoing  rules,  in  reading. 

Genesis,  Chap.  I.  Ver/es  i,  2,  &  3. 

V"ii>*n"\  :vi*<!i  nj<i  a^»u?n  hk  d^iSk  «i3  n*it:^Kna 

nrniD  Q'^rha  nini  a^inn  ^js  Sj?  ■|t:?m  tnsi  \in  »inM 

;  n^K  %'T>i  i^K  •»rT'  Q^irhn  iDK'fi  :  airjn  •'Js  Sp 

Pronounced  thus  : 

Brasit  bra  Aleim  at  esmlm  oat  earezh.^  Oearezh 
cite  teo  obeo  ohesk  ol  pen!  teom  oroh  Alcim  mer- 
hcpet   ol  peni  emim.     OLlmer   Aleim  lei    aor    oiei 

aor.ll ^ 

*  To  write  the  Hebrew  letters  frequently  is  the  bell  way  to 
make  them  familiar  to  the  learner. 

f  When  two  confonants,  joined  with  a  vowel  either  preceding 
or  following,  will  form  an  eafy  found,  it  is  beil  to  rtin  them  both 
into  one  fyllable  :  for  inftance,  pronounce  i^i'■,  orb  ;  K11,  bra. 
This  is  nearly  the  fame  as  to  pronounce  the  fupplied  vowel  veiy 
Ihort. 

:}:  The  textual  vov/els  are  the  five  m.entioned,  No.  2. 

§   No  other  ftop  is  ufqd  in  mod  unpointed  books. 

jl  A,  with  this  (")  placed  over  it,  is  pronounced  broad,  as  in 
all :  O,  with  it,  like  00,  or  as  in  iomb. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR,  7 

Proverbs,  Chap.  I.  Ver/es  i,  2,  3,  4. 

*iD^fii  nx:5n  n^-i'?  :  Sx-ic-*''  lS^,  nn  p  ^i^^c^  *''?tro 

asB^Di   n-iv   S5u*n   "^did   nnp*?  ;  ;n:'»3   •'^t:>?  prshS 

}  nD?Di  nyi  ij;jS  mdij?  d^khl^?  nnS  ;  a^Tk^*r:> 

Pronounced  thus : 

Wsli  Slime  ben  Dod  melk  IsraL  Ledot  hekme 
omosher  lebin  amri  bine.  Lequehct  mosher  eskel 
zhedek  omespeth  omesrim.  Letet  leptaim  orme 
lenor  dot  omezme. 

Zephaniah,  III.  8. 

^^dkS  Mas^TD  '»5  1^^  •os'ip  D'^^'S  _nMT>  a>*j  '•S  ^tn  j^S 

Pronounced  thus : 

Leken  heko  li  nam  leoe  Horn  quomi  lod  ki  mespethi 
lashop  goim  lequebzhi  memelkot  lespek  oliem  zomi 
fcel  heron  api  ki  bas  quenati  takel  kel  earezh. 


SECTION    n. 

OF    THE    DIVISION    OF    LETTERS. 

1,  Befide  the  common  divifion  of  letters  into  vow 
els  and  coiifonants^  they  are,  in  Hebrew,  divided  into 
radicals  and  ferviles, 

2.  A  radix  or  root  is  a  fimple  word,  ufually  con- 
fiding of  three  letters,  from  which  other  words  are 
derived  j  as  "ips,  he  vifited ;  13V>  '^^  fer'ved* 


8  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

3.  Radical  letters  are  thofe  which  always  make 
part  of  a  radix  or  root. 

4.  Servile  letters  are  thofe  which  ferve  for  the  va-* 
riation  of  the  root,  by  gender,  number,  per/on,  &c. 
and  for  particles. 

5.  The  fervile  letters  are  eleven,  viz.  K,  S,  n,  % 
\  5,  S,  D,  J,  ^,  n. 

6.  The  other  eleven  letters  are  radical ;  except 
D  and  1  when  ufed  for  n.* 

7.  Although  the  radical  letters  are  never  fervile,] 
yet  the  fervile  letters  are  often  radical,  or  make  part 
of  a  root. 


SECTION    III. 

OF    WORDS    AND    THEIR    DIVISION. 

1.  Words  in  Hebrew  may  be  divided  into  three 
kinds,  viz.  Nouns,  Verbs,  and  Particles. 

2.  A  noun  is  the  name  of  a  fubjlance,  or  of  a 
quality  ;  as,  VJ?j  ^  tf^^^  S  ^"^^9  good. 

3.  A  verb  expreffes  the  adion  or  J^afe  of  a  being, 
or  thing  ;  as,  0%lSi«  nCKil,  ^«^  God  /aid  ; 
u3"'Dt2^n  1^5^%  and  the  heavens  ivere  Jinijhed. 

4.  Particles  denote  the  connexion,  relation,  dif- 
tlndion,  emphafis,  oppofition,  &c.  or,  in  a  word, 
the  circumftances  of  one's  thoughts  5  as,  and,  but, 
with,  or,  although, 

j^  Sec  Se6l.  VIII.  No.  12,        f  Except  a,  &c.  as  in  Nq.  6. 


.v.:..:^ 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


S  E  C  T  I  O  N    IV. 

OF    NOUNS   ;     REGIMEN  ;    COMPARISON    OF     ADJEC- 
TIVES J    THE    DECLENSION    OF    NOUNS,    &C. 

1.  A  noun  is  either  fubjianthe,  or  adjedive. 

2.  A  noun  fuhjiantive  is  the  name  of  a  fuhjiance  ; 
as,  JU^,  a  tooth  ;  C^iK,  a  man  ;  Spy>,  Jacob  :  or  of 
a  quality,  action,  pajjion,  or  Jiate  of  a  being,  or 
thing,  confidered  abftradedly  5  as,  155,  glory  ; 
ri)0*?5,  jhame. 

3.  A  noun  adjeSli'Ve^  fo  called  becaufe  adjeSiitiousj 
or  added  to  a  fubftantive,  denotes  fome  quality  or  ^^- 
cident  of  the  fubftantive  to  which  it  is  joined  ;  as, 
7"li,  great  ;  3lt3,  good.  Thus,  in  the  phrafes,  *1SD 
'71  Jl,  ^  ^rf<j/  ^00^,  and  V*^^  5113,  ^  ^oc^/  man,  great 
and  ^00^  are  adjedives. 

4.  Nouns,  in  Hebrew,  as  in  Englijh,  are  not  de- 
clined by  cafes,  or  by  changes  made  upon  their  ter- 
minations, to  exprefs  the  relation  of  one  thing  to 
another,  as  nouns  in  Latin  and  Greek  are. 

5.  In  Hebrew,  nouns  are  of  two  genders,  mafcu- 
line  and  feminine  ;  and  of  two  numbers,  fingular 
and  plural. 

6.  Moft  Hebrew  nouns  not  ending  in  n  <jr  n  are 
mafculine  ;  thofe  which  do  end  in  M  or  n  are  ufual- 
iy  feminine.* 

7.  The  feminine  fingular  may  be  formed  from  the 


*  Some  mafculine  noans  fingular,  derived  from  verbs  Lamed  He^ 
^nd  in  n,     N.  B.  They  always  throvir  away  n  before  C3\ 


f©  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR, 

mafculine,  by  fuffixing  n  or  n  ;  as,  3lt:,  good,  mafc. 
nSlD  or  nrnD,  fem.* 

8.  Names  of  females,  proper  names  of  places,  cit- 
ies, countries  ;  and  of  parts  or  members  of  the  hu- 
man body,  &c.  are  feminine,  though  of  a  mafculine 
termination. 

9.  Cardinal  numerals  from  three  to  ten  are  mafcu- 
line with  a  feminine  termination,  and  feminine  with 
a  mafculine  termination. 

10.  Nouns  ending  in  *»  take  n  only  for  the  femi- 
nine ;  as,  *»'T2»0,  an  Egyptian  fiian  ;  n'J'li'D,  an  Egyp- 
tian woman  :  alfo,  when  a  letter  is  dropped,  the  fem- 
inine ends  in  n  ;  as,  p,  a  fon,  n3,  a  daughter,  (i 
being  dropped)  j  in^%  one,  nriK,  feminine,  ("1  being 
dropped.) 

li.  The  plural  of  mafculine  nouns  is  formed  by 
adding  ED"»,  and  fometimes  only  CD,  to  the  fmgular  ; 
as,  fmg.  l^D,  a  king  ;  plur.  S^i^Sd  or  CDsSd, 
kings^\ 

12.  The  plural  of  feminine  nouns  is  formed  by  ad- 
ding n^  or  n  to  the  fmgular  ;  as  pK,  a  land  ;  plur. 
n^3fnK  or  m"!*^,  lands  :  or  by  changing  n  into  m 
or  T\ ;  as,  iTTin,  a  law  ;  '  plur.  ITmn  or  nmn,  Az':^;^  • 
or  by  retaining  n  of  the  fmgular,  or  by  changing  it 
into  m  J  as,  niJK,  a  letter  ;  plur.  ni-IK  or  n"^"lili<,  letters, 

13.  Feminine  nouns  fingular  in  W  form  the  plu- 
ral by  ni"'  or  n'' ;  as,  fmg.  ITinK,  a  Jijier  ;  plur, 
n'\''nK  or  r\'^r\^,  Jijier s. 


*  Not  only  {tmmmt  fuhjlantlves  fingular,  but  feminine  adjeSivej 
and  participles  fing.  often  end  in  n,  in  the  abfolute  ftate.  For 
the  definition  of  the  abfolute  ftate,  fee  No.  19. 

f  It  is  matter  of  notoriety,  that,  by  means  of  the  points, 
Vau  and  Yod  have  been  often  dropped  from  the  plural  :  they 
ought,  however,  to  be  rcftor^d,  where  the  analogy  of  the  Hebrew 
language  requires  them. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  u 

14.  Some  feminine  nouns  have  moreover  another 
plural  termination,  formed  by  changing  ninto  D"»n 
or  C3'>m  ;  as,  MDm,  a  damfel  ;  plur.  DTiDm  or 
OTllDnn,  dam/els* 

15.  Numer-al  adjedives,  from  one  to  ten  inclufively, 
though  lingular  in  form,  take  a  plural  fubftantive  j 
as,  a'»Jtt^  j;31K,  four  years.  rjSi*,  a  thoufand,  fol- 
lows this  conftrudion.  All  other  numeral  adjedives, 
though  plural  in  form,  take  a  Angular  fubftantive  j 
as,  T\1V  D'^V^'^^j  foffy  years, 

1 6.  The  mafculine  plural  termination  added  to  the 
cardinal  numerals  from  three  to  nine  inclufively,  in- 
creafes  their  number  tenfold.  Twenty  is  expreffed 
by  the  numeral  ten,  "^U^,  in  the  mafculine  plural. 

1 7.  Sometimes  cardinal  numerals  feem  to  be  ufed 
as  fubftantives  fingular  in  regimen  or  conJlruBion  ;t 
as,    CD"iD"i  n];j?*?{i^,  three  days   (a  trinity  of  days)  5 
CD^D"*  n'^Ji^j;,  ten  days  (a  decade  of  days.) 

18.  When  two  fubftantives  come  together,  figni-! 
fying  different  things,  the  former  @f  them  is  in  regi-^ 
men  or  conjlrudion  ;  as,  nin'»  nsi,  the  word-of  Je- 
hovah,%     Here   IST  is  in  regimen. 

19.  Words  are  faid  to  be  abfolufe,  when  they  are 
not  in  regimen  or  conJiruElion, 

20.  Adjedives  and  participles,  coming  before  fubr 
ftantives,  are  alfo  frequently  in  regimen. 


*  The  feminine  plural,  formed  by  changing  rr  into  tn^n,  is 
fometimes  dual ;  as,  t3^n3U>,  tnuo  years.  Gen.  XI.  lo.  XLI.  i.— 
CaTll^K, /wo  cubits,  Exod.  XXV.  lo  and  17 — C3>nKD,  rwo  meaf- 
ures,  I  Kiogs^  XVIII.  32 — O^nXTO, /wo  hundred,  Gca.  XL  19 
and  32. 

f  For  the  definition  of  thefe  terms,  fee  No.  i8.  Alfo  No. 
21.     Note  firft. 

§  When  a  word  is  in  regimen,  0/  is  joined  to  its  Englifh  ;  not 
to  that  of  the  following  word  :  as,  the  word-of  Jehcvah  ;  nat 
the  word  of-Jehovah. 


li  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

21.  MafcuHne  nouns  fingular  fufFer  no  change  Iri 
regimen*  ;  but  in  the  plural  they  drop  their  u3  j  as, 
V1K  '»5^D,  kings-of  a  country.^ 

12.  Nouns  feminine  fmgular  ending  In  n,  when  in 
regimen,  change  their  H  into  n  ;  as,  nin"*  n*nin. 
Other  feminine  nouns  fmgular,  as  alfo  fcminines 
plural  in  ni   and  n,  fufFer  no  change  in  regimen, 

23.  All  nouns  with  fuffixes  are  in  regimen.\ 

24.  .The  Comparative  degree  in  Hebrew  is  made 
by  ]yi  or  D,  thus,  ty:3"l»  CD>pinD,/w^d'/^r  than  hon- 
ey (fweet  in  comparifon  of  honey.) 

25.  The  fuperlative  is  formed  by  "IKD,  very  ;  as, 
"IKD  S'jb,  ijery  good  :  by  repeating  an  adje6live  ;  as, 
3"ll3  S^D,  the  bejl,  or  very  good  (good  good)  :  or, 
by  the  fanie  or  a  fynonymous  word  repeated,  the 
former  being  in  regimen  ;  as,  IDy  D'^tDj;,  a  moji 
abje6l  Jlave   (fervant  of  fervants). 

26'.  One  of  the  names  of  God  is  fometimes  pla- 
ced after  the  noun,  fome  quality  of  which  is  to  be 
cxpreffed  in  the  fuperlative  ;  as,  ^7^  "'HK,  the  lofticji^ 
or  very  lofty  cedars  (cedars  of  God§). 

27.  Mafculine  nouns  are  thus  declined  : 

PLURAL.  SINGULAR. 


Conftrufted.    I      Abfolute. 
•   >nn        Din  or  D^'jn 


Conftrufted.     I     Abfolute. 

'Jin  lil,  a  ivord. 


*  Words  are  faid  to  be  conJlruBed^  when  they  are  in  regimen. 

■*•}•  Some  feminines  plural  end  in  C3>  ;  as,  Ca^U'i,  ivives,  Q^Sfti, 

Jhe  camels,   XDi'^tTiyJhe  goats,  O^Wa'jS,  conaibines.     Such  feminines 

plural,    like    mafcuHnes,    drop    Ca    m  regimen,  as  do  feminines 

plural  in  C3>n  and  Q^ni,      Alfo  fome  feminine  nouns  fingular 

end  in  other  letters  befide  n  and  n.     See  No.  8. 

X  See  Seft.  VII.  No.  3.  Note. 

$  In  the  book  of  Jonah,  Chap.  III.  ver.  3.  Nineveh  is  called 
ta^nHi^H   nHn^   1^J?»  an  exceedingly  great  city    (a  city  great  to 
God).     In  the  fame   manner,  Mofes  is    called  by  Saint  Stephen> - 
A<^s,  VII.  20.  et^iioi  ru  6tUf  exceedingly  fair  (fair  to  God). 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  13 

28.  Feminine  nouns  ending  in  n  are  thus  declined  : 


PLURAL. 

SINGULAR. 

Conftrufted. 

npna  or  nipn^ 

Abfolute. 

npn^  or  nipix 

Conftruaed. 

npiii 

Abfolute. 
righteoufnefs. 

29.  Feminine  nouns  ending  in  n  are  thus  declined  : 
m:iK  or  nnjN  |  m:iN  or  n-n^N  |  rn:iK    |  m:iN,  a  ktter. 

30.  Feminine  nouns  in  ni  are  thus  declined  : 
n^nx  or  nvnx  |  n>nN  or  nvnx  |  ninx  |  nm>f,  a  j^^r. 

EXCEPTIONS. 


31.     niixl 
naN  or  3 

'nx 


nix  or  niax 
ta^rrx 


C3"'tt 

nvs^s  or  nvs,  d""!) 


*ix 

^nx 

-I 


iX>     a  father. 

nx>  a  brother. 

p,  ayofl. 

[/aw. 

—  afather-in- 

—  waters. 
ns,     a  mouth. 


32.  Adje6lives  and  participles  are  liable  to  all  the 
changes  to  which  fubftantives  are.  They  are  thus 
declined  : 


SINGULAR. 

fem.  cons. 

fem.  abs. 

mafc.  abs 

and  tons. 

n- 

n-  or  n- 

PLURAL. 

ailfi,  good. 

fern.  cons. 

• 

fem.  abs.             mafc. 

cons. 

jnafc.  abs. 

n-  or  nv 

n-  or  m- 

>• 

C3>- 

*  It  often  happens,  that  nouns  have  a  feminine  termination  in 
the  Angular,  and  a  mafculine  termination  in  the  plural,  according 
to  this  example  :  fuch  nouns,  derived  from  verbs  Lamed  He,  arc 
mafculine.  The  reverfe  alfo  occuri. 


14  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR, 


SECTION    V. 


OF    PREFIXES. 


1.  Thefe  feven  ferviles  S,  M,  %  5,  ^,  »,  and  V 
are  called  prefixes,  becaufc  they  are  often  prefixed 
to  words. 

2.  S  fignifies  in  ;  (alfo,  into,  within,  afuong,  when, 
to,  at,  againji,  with,  co7icerning,  of,  by,  for,  on  ac- 
count of,  towards,  upon,  above,  according  to  J  :  as, 
piy,  righteoufnefs  ;  p"li.'3,  in  righteoufnefs. 

3.  n  is  demonflrative,  vocative,  or  relative  ;  and, 
■when  prefixed  to  nouns,  fignifies  the,  that,  or  0  ; 
when  prefixed  to  verbs  and  participles,  who,  which. 
Sec.  and  it  is  fometimes  interrogative,  or  a  note  of 
admiration  :  as,  1^12,  a  ki}ig  ;  I'^JSH,  the,  or  that, 
or  0  king.     It  is  frequently  emphatic, 

4.  "^  fignifies  and  ;  (as  alfo,  but,  notwithjlanding, 
that,  or,  nor,  even,  when,  to  wit,  fo,  alfo,  although, 
feeing  that,  then,  becaife,  if)  :  as,  l^D,  a  king  ; 
"17X5%  a?id  a  king. 

5.  5  fignifies  as  ;  (alfo,  like,  according  to,  when  J  : 
as,  \y,  a  tree  ;   VJ?5j  as  a  tree. 

6.  S  fignifies  to,  of,  for  ;  (and  until,  upon,  with, 
at,  about,  from,  in,  into,  unto,  on  account  of,  after, 
according  to,  before,  with).  Thus,  "i^D,  a  king  ; 
"iyd?,  to  or  of  2i  king.  ^  fomethnes  denotes  pof- 
feflion  or  property  j  as,  an  *''?,  they  are  mine,  (funt 
mihi). 

7.  D  fignifies  from  ;  ("out  of,  in,  amorig,  by  or 
near,  by  tneans  of,  becaife  of,  in  comparifon  of,  a- 
gainji,  before,  not,  leji)  :  as,  in,  a  mou?itain ;  '^^V, 
from  a  mountain. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  15 

8.  ty  fignifies  who  or  ivJAch  ;  (becaufe,  that,  for, 
when)  :  as,  rnK>,  he  Jhall  take  ;  rnK>r,  ivho  (hall 
take.* 


SECTION    VI. 


OF    PRONOUNS. 


I.  Under  nouns,  In  Hebrew,  are  comprehended 
pronouns,  fo  called,  becaufe  they  (land  (^pro  nominibus') 
inftead  of  nouns. 

1.  Grammarians  divide  pronouns  into  feveral 
kinds  ;  as,  primitive,  pojfejjive,  demonjirative,  relative^ 
and  interrogative. 

3.  Primitive  pronouns  are  diflingulfhed  into  three 
perfons.  The  Jirji  perfon  fingular  is  ''JK,  "i^JK,  or 
TlK,  /,  and  me  :  plural,  1JK,  f  IJnJK,  we  and  us. 

The  fecond  perfon  fingular  is  |  UnK,  §  HK,  or  IDK, 
/^o«  and  //6^^  .•  plural,  EDHK  or  OlDHK  (mafculine),  ye 
and  jj'oz/  ;  [nK,  nJnK,  or  [5nN  (feminine),  ye  and  jyoz^. 

The  third  perfon  fmgular  is  Kl?l,  Z?^,  i^*>T^  or  Kin, 
y^^  .-  plural,  art  or  nori  (generally  mafculine), 
they  ;  p  or  Hin  (generally  feminine),  //j^^. 

4.  Fragments  of  the  primitive  pronouns,  as  ">  from 
"»JK,  "^i  from  ^JIPI^KjII  joined  to  the  end  of  nouns,  fup- 


*  When  the  prefixes  are  apph'ed  in  any  manner  not  noted  here, 
an  attentive  reader  will  be  at  no  lofs  for  their  fignification. 

f  We  rarely  findiana,  fonansx,       X  Mafcuhne.       §  Feminine. 

II  Thus,  from  TDK,  Jia^ular^  Ca^DN,  mafculine  pluraly  ]Dnh»; 
ftmlnine  pluraly  are  taken  *|,  rra,  and  >D,  tbee  and  thy  j  05,    you 


i6 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


ply  the  place  of  poffeffive  pronouns,  and  are  called 
fiiffixes.     See  the  next  Sedion. 

5.  The  demonftrative  pronouns,  in  Hebrew,  are* 

hj,  nr,  ir,   ni<r,  rSm,  vSn,  and  ryhry^    fmgular, 

this  or  that  :  Sk  or  hSi<,  plural,  //j^f/'^.f 

6.  The  relative,  I^H,  who,  which,  that,    is  maf- 
culine  and  feminine  ;  fingular  and  plural. 

7.  The   interrogatives   are    ''D,  %vho,    T\'0,\   what, 
com.  fingular  and  plural. 


SECTION     VII. 
OF  SUFFIXES. 


SINGULAR. 

"1:11,     a     word. 

fing. 

^^i^,     my   word. 

plur. 

"13*1^1,    our    word. 

fing. 

J'-D,  n^,  "i"in,    />&y  word. 

plur. 

C3S"iil,  your  word. 

plur. 

p"in,  ^owr  word. 

fing. 

in,  n,  ■)"ii7,    i'ij   word. 

fing. 

rrin,    her  word. 

plur. 

II can,  itt,  C3in,  ^/^«>  word. 

plur. 

^]n,  **n3  pm,  ^^«V  word. 

I.       SUFFIXES    WITH    A    MASCULINE    NOUN. 


lftPerfon■l"°™"^°"^"S 
J  com.        -'  - 

"1  com. 

2d  Perfon  >  mafc. 
J  fern. 
T  mafc. 

3d  Perfon  1^7^;^ 

J  fern. 

and  your,  mafc.  p,  you  and  joi/r,  feminine.  From  Kin  (jW  NM, 
fingular,  are  taken  1,  n,  in,  him  and  his  ;  n,  Zf^r,  &c. 

From  Csn  a/^^  nnn,  plural  mafculinc,  are  taken  Cd,  on, 
and  1735  //"fw  and  their,  mafculine.  From  ]n  and  nsn,  plural  fem- 
inine, are  taken  ),  \n,  them  and  their,  feminine.  Parts  of  the //-/'/«- 
itive  pronouns,  prefixed  or  fuffixed,  alio  form  the  perfons,  and  dif- 
tinguifli  the  tenfes  of  verbs.  Thus,  from  >3k,  k  prefixed  forms 
the  firll  perfon  fingular  future  :  from  ^DX,  •"D  fuffixed,  the  firft 
perfon    fingular  preter  or  paft,   &c. 

"^  See  Ezekiel  XLVII.    13.    4»  «ap««iap«i4l0i. 

\  n^N  denotes  the  nearer,  and  on  the  more  remote  ;  as,  hi 
et  »7/i,  in  Latin  ;  thefe  and  //"o/?,  in   Englifli. 

:{:  Generally,  ""n  relates  to  perfons,  and  n?o,    to  things. 

I  Feminine.     IJ  Gen.  1. 21.     ^  Gen.  IV.  4.    **  Job, XXXIX.  2. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


17 


I  ft  Perfon 


} 


com. 
com. 


PLURAL. 

C3>*)in,         words, 
fing.  nn,   my  words, 

plur.  linn,  our  words. 

fing.  *0,  "l^m,  thy  words, 

plur.  CD3nai,jo«r  words. 

plur.  fnsa,  p'l^n,  jo?/r  words, 

fing.  ^ni,  vi:n,  /'/j  words, 

fing.  tii'rs,  n^in,  A«-  words, 

plur.  in,  CDnnn, //j«>  words, 

plur.  ]n"i"in, //'«V  words. 

CmyJ  is  fuffixed  to  a  plural  noun, 
that  noun  ufually  lofes  it  own  "»,  or  rather  the  two 
Yods  coalefce  into  one  ;  as,  "'*13'1,  Jiiy  words,  for  ''"'llll, 

-2.  SUFFIXES    WITH    A    FEMININE    NOUN. 


T  com. 
2d  Perfon  1-  mafc. 
J  fem. 
"1  mafc. 

^d  Perfon  >  ^"l" 
■■'  I  maic. 

J  fem. 

2.  When  "^ 


SINGULAR. 

rriin,  a  law. 

^ITTin,  my  law,  com. 
lamin,  our  law,  com. 

*]m*in,  thy  law,  com. 
Ca^niin,  jo«r  law,  mafc. 
pmin,  your  law,  fem. 

imin,  his  law. 
nmin,  ^^r  law. 

&  mi  n ,  their  law,  mafc . 
p"iin,  their  law,  fem. 


n"i'Tin,or  rather  Q^niTirijlaws.  J 
^nilin,  my  laws,  com, 
"liTilTiri,  our  laws,  com. 
TTinin,  thy  laws,  com. 
toi^niTin,  jcwr  laws,  mafc. 
p^rrnin,  your  laws,  fem. 
vni*i"in,  his  laws. 
iT»n"nin,  her  laws. 
DHTinin,  /^fir  laws,  mafc. 
)n"'n"n*in,  their  laws,  fem. 

4.  Mafculine  nouns  ending  in  n  throw  away  n 
before  the  fuffixes,  and,  for  a  fufEx  of  the  third 
perfon  mafculine  fmgular,  take  yn  j  as,  n^;;,  a  leaf ; 
ihSj;,  his  leaf.  II  . 

*  Feminine.  f  Ezek.    XIII.   20.  J  Ezek.   XLI   15. 

§  Let  it  be  remembered^  that  all  nouns  with  fuffixes  are  in  reg- 
imen, according  to  Seft.  IV.  No.  23.  For  the  reception  of 
the  fuffixes,  C3  of  the  mafc.  plural  termination  dj"",  and  of  the 
feminine  plural  termination  C:\n  or  cm  (fee  SeA.  IV.  No. 
14.)  is  thrown  away  :  n  terminating  a  feminine  noun  fmgular 
muit  be  changed  into  n.  N.  B.  Feminines  plural,  with  fuffixes, 
ufually  take  the  termination  mentioned,  Seft.  IV.  No.  14. 

II  Such  nouns  do  not  change  n  into  n  in  regimen,  tiee  Sect. 
IV.  No.   31. 


i8 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


5.  SK,  a  father,  HK,  a  brother,  CDH,  a  father-in- 
law,  113,  a  mouth,  lingular  with  fuffixes,  imitate 
the  plural  ;*    as,  >"'SK,    his   father  ;  T>s,  his  mouth. 

6.  The  conjunftion  of  a  prefix,  or  a  particle, 
with  a  fuffix,  ferves  to  fupply  the  want  of  cafes 
in  the  primitive  pronouns  : 

AS, 

•>*?,  to  or  of  me,  com. 


'^,  to  or  of  him, 
Th,  to  or  o/"  her. 
1^,  to  or  ©/"thee,  com. 
D^V,  to  or  o/"you,mafc. 
p*75  ^<5  or  o/'  you,  fern. 
uV,  /(?  or  of  us,  com. 
lisS,  DhS,  to  ox     of\ 
them,  mafc.  3 
p*?,  to  or    0/"   them, 
fern.  Sec 


£m,7 


'>3,  m  me,  com. 

*l^,  in  him. 

na,  in  her. 

"IS,  /«  thee,  com. 

1JD,  m  us,  com. 
£353,  /'«  you, mafc.  &c. 
"'HK,  with  me,  com. 
inK,  w//Z>  him  ;  him. 
''JDD  or  ''JD,  yro;;z  me. 
liDD,  /r(j;?2  us,  &c. 


7.  Particles  frequently  take  fuffixes  ;  fome,  like 
nouns  fmgular  j  others,  like  nouns  plural  ;  and  a 
few,  like  verbs  ;t  as,  "J^K,  to  me,  com.  It:;;,  with 
thee,  com,  ^i'^y,  'tf///6  us,  com.  I^'^^y,  concerning  us, 
com.  rDrT'J'':3,  between  them,  mafc.  '\"'^N%  /o  him, 
'I3i"'i?,  w(7/  he,    or   him  ;   ''JJ^l,  behold  me,  or  I. 

8.  Sometimes  a  prefix,  a  particle,  and  a  fuffix  are  all 
joined  together  ;  as,  inKD  (Da  prefix,  nK  a  parti- 
cle, and  "^  a  {u^k)  from  him  :  *'"T.;^3,  while  I  have  a 
being. 

9.  n  is  called  local,  when  adhering  to  the  end  of 
nouns  it  fignifies  to,  towards,  Szc.  as,  CD'',  the  weji^ 
or  the  fea,  T\12'^,  to  or  towards  the  weji,  he.  C3"1p, 
the  eqft,  TiDIp,  towards  the  eajl  :  D'l'^i'D,  Egypt, 
JlD'^litD,  towards  Egypt. 


*  Thefe  alfo  take    >  after  tliem  in  the  finj^.  in  regimen.     Sec 
Sea.  IV.  No.  31.  \  Sec  Sea.  X.  No.  1. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  19 


SECTION    VIII. 

OF     VERBS    ;     DECLENSION     OF     REGULAR     VERBS  J 
GERUNDS,    &C. 

1.  In  Hebrew,  verbs  are  varied  by  conjugations ^ 
•voices,  modes,  tenfes,  nu?nbers,    perfons,  and  genders, 

2.  Hebrew  verbs  have  three  conjugations. 

3.  The  old  example  of  a  regular  Hebrew  verb 
was  "^jys,  whence  are  taken  the  following  grammat- 
ical terms  :  Niphaf,  the  paflive  voice  of  the  firft  con- 
jugation, /.  e.  SysJ  ;  Hip/jil,  the  adive  voice  of  the 
fecond  conjugation,  i.  c,  S^j^sn  j  Hopbal,  the  paf" 
five  voice  of  the  fecond  conjugation,  /*.  e.  SyDH  ; 
and  Hithpael,  the  third  conjugation,  /.  e.  *~?;?£nn. 
N.  B.  The  Hebrew  words,  in  thefe  injiances^  are  pro' 
nounced  according  to  the  Maforetical  points. 

4.  The  active  voice  of  the  firfl  conjugation  is  called 
Kal  (Wp,  light  J,  becaufe,  in  the  preter,  it  is  burdened 
with-  no  letter  at  the  beginning, 

5.  The  fignification  of  a  verb  In  Kal  is  ufually  ac- 
tive, or  neuter  ;  as,  1p3,  he  vifited  :  it  is,  however, 
fometimes  pajjive.  Niphal  is  the  pafiive  of  Kal : 
but  verbs  in  Niphal  fometimes  have  an  adlive  fignifi- 
cation. 

6.  Verbs  in  Hiphil  generally  fignify  to  caufe  anoth- 
er to  do  a  thing  ;  as,  "I'^psn,  he  caufed  another  to  vif- 
it.  Hiphil  fias  fometimes  the  fignification  of  Kal. 
Hophal  IS  the  pafTive  of  Hiphil  ;  and  fignifies  to  be 
caufed  to  do,  or  to  be  done  ;  as,  IpsJl,  /je  was  ?nade 

to    'Vlflt. 

7.  A  verb  In  Hithpael  commonly  fignifies  to  a£t 
upon  one's  felf  ;  as,  Iprnn,  he  made  himfelf  to  vijit^ 
It  has,  fometimes,  a  pafiive  fignification. 

8.  Regular  Hebrew  verbs  are  conjugated  and  de- 
clined according  to  the  following  example  : 


90 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


PRETER.       TENSE. 


"^ 

^ 


r 


^  o 


r-  t-  t~  '' 
C  C  C 


o  OS   ^   5 

y    ca   c    o 


FUTURE^ 


^  -^  ..^"^  "^ 

-.  p  f 

.^     ^     ^     Si 

:&  ?^  ?^  p 

ii?  CI  cT  /i? 

PL.  rs~  Q~  n~ 

J-  ^  i-  j- 

'-  C  n  P 


2  B    . 


c^ 


—  .<<     ^  ^~*  *«   ^ 


^  r  c  c  as 


bo 

'c* 

/^    ^^    n    o 

A)    O    A)    A) 

/^    n    r-»    *-» 
/^    d    CI    1^ 

c,  C  C  C  ^ 
ri_ci  ^  CI  3 
r  n-  f^/:^'r■ 
l-  1-  r-  ^ 

o 

tv! 

O.  R-  n.  li.     • 

n-n-  n-o- 

OS 

^'^^' 

<5 

I-    1-    »-    t-    J 

n  C  C  ;») 

r-  n   >-  t- 
^  C  C   P 

< 

O 

»■     OS 

D-* 

o 

n  i:  n  f: 

H  C  !:  n 

CI  c  c  c  ss 

r^ 

m  c\  s:\  Ki     , 

O   O  C)   o 

r^  *n  c<  ci  5 

< 

D 
O 
z 

Q-  rv  (i.  ri.  J 
^  f^  p  p  <: 
•^i:  ^  F  g 

n.  /i.  /i.  ri. 
^  t-  1-  r- 

r  c  n  p 

< 
.J 

D 
O 
Z 

i_  ri-r^R-J?- 
1-  1-  r-  t- 

ctf 

» 

0> 

bo 

3 

C^ 

1 

I— (    rt    oj 
>-»  ^    > 

o 


^CS 


ffi 


o 


irlzlrn      r:r:n:n: 
n- fi- fi- n- J   li- /i- n.  n. 


c)  C  C  c  as 

ri-  El  CI  CI  « 
t-  n-  r^  n.  n- 


irirnn  1:1:1:1: 
Q  c  c  Q  .cccc 
ciooc)>->oodo 
n-  o-  n-  ri.  <  n-  n.  n-  n. 
/-r-j-f-oii-i-ri- 
i:CCD'~CCp 


r  n  C  C  :c 
c^  C  C  C  C 
ri-  CI  c)  CI  CI 
J-  o-  fi.n.n- 
l-  r  r-  *~ 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


21 


TENSE. 

IMPERATIVE. 

2 

h 

« 

. 

<J 

-«5 

PLURAL. 
.  they  Jhally  mafc 
,  they  Jhall,  fem. 
,  ye  Jhally  mafc. 
,  ye  Jhall,  fem. 
,  ive  Jhall,  com. 

OS    9    2     •     •     • 

■«!  "fi  "^    J     U     U 

2    E>    P    J    sk,  ^ 

z 

A1 

p. 

> 

h 
a: 
< 

a. 

imp- 

>-  r  r  1- 

#-»    J-    *n 

(2- 

1- 

F 

n     n 

-f- 

o 

r?    S 

O 

4-       -+- 

»2- 

Ki    K\ 

«! 

12-  12- 

f2. 

i- 

f-    1- 

I- 

Hi  c  c  c  3 

n  n     rrn 

r 

»1 

.  £1  «     «  in 

£) 

fi| 

.   r  ri-c-fs-r^ 

Bi    12-  li-    ;    li.  12- 

O- 

(2- 

^  *-  *-  1-  r-  "^ 

<;  »-  f-  "J  r-  i- 

|- 

f~ 

•<        C!  *"  I? 

J              <   *"  2 

2        C        K 

o         «*     n 

» 

O                =? 

ij 

z          :^ 

Bi 

03 

\ 

£l  c  c  c  5 

n  C      i:  i: 

i: 

Q 

J  fi)  «    .  «  fl 

s^ 

« 

.  '    fi-fi-n-t^ 

e^    n-p.  J    R-li. 

n- 

n- 

J  f:  r  p  »-  '^ 
«:      ?  I^  p 
a:     n     n 

r^i^E 

f- 

?- 

9 

O               2 

i4 

Z                    Sk 

»• 

CO 

£i  c  c  c  s 

i: 

fl 

. 

f\ 

« 

J  r  li.  /i-  Ci- jr 

bo 

n~ 

12- 

^  •-  r  t~  r  ^ 

'■3 
c 

r 

1- 

1.4 

^ 

f-  C  C  C  " 

.  i;  c  c  c  g 

i:  C      i:  n 

r. 

$3 

:^  c  c    .  c  c 

c 

C 

►3  rL«  «  ^  S 

•<    £1    £)    »)    O    £1 

e\ 

/n 

■<  J-  li-rs-P-}::^ 

J    /2_  n.  <    12-/2- 

12- 

12- 

o!  *-  r-  f-  1-  '^ 

•:i  r  r  at.  r  r 

I- 

f- 

3     E'E 

\        S'E 

a< 

in 

-^    "    n 

r."    " 

n 

X 

o   c   u  ^ 

«^  ,iu  «y  eu 

^        S 

i^r^J  "On  2 

*- ^-^  «, 

•"  1=^  S  13 
r  - 

p    w    '"'     "^ 

Or  .  -a 

c  u  o  e 

rt    u . 

-c!  "^  -ti 
••>■<->    C 

a.  t« 

w  i;    •  S 


^>       CO 


w^  -5  •" 

*J      _<-»-'  "O 

<4-i  I— I  O  <u 
art        ■»-» 

— .    3    (u  3 

o    C2,  c  o 

^  "(^  "> 
"    .O    c 

♦-'    -fl       Q, 

(u  -^  o  .2 
o  "^  -a     •« 

-°-o   So, 

T3     C    S^ 


'    O    !=    e 


•2    ii<^    ,. 


c  -5 
o 


.2  <ii 


«   ^  ^  cJI 


a-  ^ 


D 


22  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

9.  Ill  Hebrew,  aftive  participles  fignify  either  as 
thofe  o{t\iepre/e?tf,  or  the  future  in  rus,  in  Latin  ;  paf- 
five  participles,  as  thofe  oi  the  prefer^  or  future  in  dus.* 

1  o.  1  prefixed  to  a  verb  often  converts  the  preter 
into  the  prefent,  or  future,  and  the  future  into  the  pref- 
ent,  or  preter  ;  as,  M^pJ**,  and  I  will  rebuke  ;  ■\S"l"'% 
andhe  fpake.\ 

11.  The  particle  *K,  then^  coming  before  the  fu- 
ture, fometimes  converts  it  into  the  preter  ;  as, 
nSI*)  W,  then  he  /pake. 

12.  In  Hithpael,  when  the  firfl  radical  is  ?,  D,  V, 
or  Vt  the  charafleriftic  T\  is  tranfpofed  with  it  ;  as, 
iSnti^n,  from  nsti?.  And  the  chara£teriftic  n  being 
tranfpofed  with  7  is  changed  into  1,  and  with  If,  into 
D  :  as,  I»";rr-|,  from   pr  ;  Ip-iDl'n,  from  p'^^;I. 

13.  The  prefixes,  D,  5,  ^,  and  12,  joined  to  the 
infinitive  mode,  form  gerunds  j  as,  *T»p3l3,  in  'vifit. 
ing  ;  "Ips^,  to   v'lfit. § 

1 4.  When  the  third  perfon  feminine  preter  of  any 
conjugation  is  followed  by  a  pronoun  fuffix,  its  n  is 
changed  into  n  ;  as,  innDriJ?,  Jhe  loved  hifn.  i  Sam. 
XVIII.  28. 

15.  The  fecond  perfon  mafculine  plural  of  the  pre- 
ter of  Kal  fometimes  drops  its  CD  before  a  fuffix  ;  as, 
ijnm,  ye  have  fajied  to  me,  for  ''J^nDJf.  Zech. 
VII.  5.  ^IT&^^Ty^'jehave  brought  us  up,  for  IJI^JH'iSj;!-!. 
Numb.  XX.  5. 

1 6.  In  the  fartheft  column  to  the  left  hand  of  the 
preceding  example  of  regular  verbs  are  added  the 
par'agogic  letters,  i.  e.  letters  which  are  fometimes 
fuffixed   to  the  refpective  perfons  of  all  the  conjuga- 

*  In  Kal,   there  is  a  pajfi've  as  well  as  aBme  participle. 

f  Sometimes  the  1  is  not  joined  to  the  word  it  afFefts  ;  but  to 
another. 

\  Sometimes  n,  the  charafteriftic  of  Hithpael,  is  omitted. 

\  :i,  3,  and  b  often  exclude  rr,  the  charaAeriflic  of  the  in* 
finitive  of  Niphal  and  Hiphil. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  23 

tions,  againft  which  they  ftand.  They  are  added  for 
emphafis,  or  euphony.  They  are  fuffixed  to  irregular 
as  well  as  regular  verbs. 


SECTION     IX. 

OF    IRREGULAR    VERBS, 


1.  Thofe  verbs,  which  in  their  formation  are  not 
ftridly  reducible  to  the  foregoing  example  of  Ips, 
are  called  irregular,  or  defeSllve. 

2.  The  feveral  Idnds  of  irregular  verbs  are  thefe,  viz . 

Pe  Yod  *'  \'^^'^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^'^^^^^  °^  ^^^^^  ^^ 
Oin  Vau,  or  a  verb  the  middle  radical  of  which  is 
Lamed  He,  or  a  verb  ending  with 
Pe  Nun,  or  a  verb  the  iajt  radical  of  which  is 
Oin  doubled,  or  a  verb  the  two  lafl:  letters  of  which 
are  the  fame. 

T         1  rj.^  ',  f  0/- a  verb  the  lafl  radical  of  which  is  ^  .' 
Lamed  lau, 13  C  ^* 

Pe  Aleph. 

3.  The  radical  ^  of  verbs  Pe  Aleph  is  generally 
omitted  in  the  firfl  perfon  lingular  of  the  future,| 
left  two  Alephs  fhould  occur ;  as,  15K,  for  1DNN. 
In  other  refpe£ls  verbs  Pe  Aleph  are  regular. 

Pe  Yod. 

4.  Verbs  Fe  Tod  caft  away  "^  in  the  imperative  of 
Kal  ;  as,  3?:^,  for  ZV*^  ;  alfo  "^  is  omitted  in  the  in- 
finitive of  Kal,  and  n  is  added  ;  as,  nsD.  See  the 
following  example  : 

*  From  the  old  example  bys,  thofe  verbs,  which  drop  their 
firft  letter,  have  been  called  defedtive  in  Pe,  S  ;  thofe,  which 
drop  their  fecond,  defeftive  in  Oin,  3;  j  and  thofe,  which  drop 
their  third,  defcdlive  in  Lamed,  b. 

-}-  Moft  irregular  verbs  are  fametimes  regularly  formed. 

X  Or,  rather,  the  two  Alephs  coalefce  in  one. 


14 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


Example  of  the  conjugations  and  declenfion  of  verbs 
Pe  Yod. 


T\D\ 

Z:*^  added. 

Hophal. 

Hiphil. 

Niphal. 

Kal. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

flDin 

fl^Din 

P|D"13 

«1D>,   ^<-. 

nsDin 

ns'-Din 

rtSD13 

rr»)D>,  ^. 

nsDin 

nsDin 

nSD"l3 

nsD"",  ^Aott, 

c. 

TlSDirT 

^n3D")n 

"nsDo 

^nsDS  />  &c.  ., 

•91 

PLURAL, 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

iSDirr 

iS'>D")n 

ISDIi 

1SD"' 

h9 

DDSDin 

cnsDin 

onsDii 

onsD' 

]nstiin 

psmn 

psDia 

^nsD" 

iJSDin 

i3*)D"in 

13SD13 

•):sD> 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR 

«1DV 

r^sDV 

r|DV 

r]D> 

>]Din 

tT«Din 

riDin 

t]Vn 

»1Din 

^l^Din 

^IDin 

fjon 

^SDin 

>2"iDin 

^*3Din 

^rion 

*1D1K 

tT»D1N 

f)D1N 

r)DK 

c 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

c 

ISDV 

IS'-DV 

ISD'C 

ISD'' 

50 

njsDin 

n35Din 

n3£Din 

n^son 

isDin 

is'-mn 

isDin 

ison 

rtasDin 

riiSDin 

n3SD"in 

nascn 

r]D13 

JT-Dia 

r|D13 

r)D3 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

^CDin 

f|D"in 

t]0 

s 

Not  ufed. 

^s^Din 

•"SDin 

"UD 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

> 

"iS''D*in 

1£DirT 

1SD 

in 

niSDin 

njDDin 

n:£D 

fjDin 

ri">D"tn 

riD")n 

ni)D   Infin, 

fl"'D173 

fjCV  Part. 

aa. 

r^v^-o 

r|C"i: 

»>1D*  Part. 

pafT. 

fP^  -/^^  J^'v*-^^  Y^pn,  ny^pn,  niy^pn^^ 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  is 

5.  When  any  of  thefe  lervile  letters,  K,  H,  >,  O,  J, 
Ji,  are  prefixed  to  a  verb  Pe  Tod,  in  its  declcnfion, 
the  radical  *»  is  ufually  either  omitted,  or  changed  in- 
to 1.  Except  DD%  SS,  jDt,  and  pJ** ;  which,  in  Hiph- 
il,  require  "»  inftead  of  "1  ;  as,  S"'t3"tn,/or  S*>Din. 

6.  Thefe  four  verbs,  ^Q^,  n'D\  p%  and  n-|%  in  Hith- 
pael,  change  •»  into  %  as,  "iDinn.  Other  verbs  Pe  Tod 
are  regular  in  Hithpael.  N.  B.  Whenever  Hithpael 
is  not  inferted  in  the  examples  of  irregular  verbs,  it  is 
regularly  declined,  as  in  "np3  j  unlefs  in  fuch  inftances 
as  will  be  noticed. 

7.  The  verb  *?D"'  has  "i  in  the  future  of  Kal ;  thus, 

b5lK,  IJhall  be  able. 

8.  np^,  to  take,  or  be  taken,  is  formed  in  KalX\k&  r|D>. 

9.  The  formative  1  in  Hiphil  is  fometimes  omitted  ; 
as,  ^rovr^for  MSlTin.     Jerem.  XXXII.  2>y^ 

OiN  Vau. 

10.  The  root  of  verbs  O'm  Vau  is  the  infinitive  j  as, 
Cip,  to  arife.  In  the  third  perfon  mafculine  fmgular 
of  the  preter  of  Kal,  which  is  the  root  of  all  other 
verbs,  the  T  difappears. 

1 1.  Verbs  Lamed  He,  and  a  few  others,  when  their 
middle  radical  is  1,  are  regular,  with  regard  to  that 
letter. 

1 2.  Thefe  four  verbs,  1"1K,  U^IS,  nv,  and  SVJ,  have 
^  in  the  preter  of  Kal ;  as,  HDVJ,  n::'\D,  DID. 

13.  tT'^S  fometimes  imitates  verbs  P^IW;  as,  pre- 
ter of  Hiphil,  U^">Din. 

14.  The  third  radical  of  verbs  Oin  Vau  is  frequent- 
ly repeated  ;  as,  ai2lp. 

15.  Verbs  Oin  Vau  fometimes  omit  their  1  in  the 
future  of  Kal  ;  as,  I'O^  for  SlU^'t ;  from  DlU^. 

16.  Hiphil  fometimes  fuffers  an  aphasrefis  of  the 
charaderiftic  fl,  in  the  imperative  ;  as,  D^p,  fecond 
per.  fmg.  mafc.  for  D''pn.  Verbs  having  their  middle 
radical  "»  fometimes,  in  like  manner,  drop  n  in  Hiphil. 


26 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


Example  of  the  conjugations  and  declenfion  of  verbs 
OiN  Vau. 


Hophal. 

Hiphil. 

^^  placed. 

Niphal. 

Kal. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

n?3wirr 

n73"'u;n 

ciu;3 
n73")u;3 

ni721W3 

717311;,  Jhe. 
n73T2;,  /Aoa,  c. 

''jn73u;,  /,  &c.  ^ 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL.            g 

"l3J2U?in 

i)3''U'n 

Dmy3"'u;n 

pi73''\yn 

i3i)3"'Tyn 

1731U;3 

Dni)2iu;3 
]ni72iu;3 
73"i?3i;y3 

173U;                  ? 

Dn)3u; 
]n73y; 

1373^ 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

tiurin 

£Diu;n 
"•73'n2;n 
diu;k             .« 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL.           ^ 

77373  ^in 
n3)3^in 

DT2;i3 

n3?o''u;n 
"i72''u;n 

D'''j;3 

173")  ;y^ 
n3?3i;yn 

1731U>n 

n373i;2;n 

n3?3iu;n 

"1731U>n 

n373');yn 

DIlTi 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

Not  ufed. 

^73''Tyn 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

^)3iu;             ^ 
> 

PLURAL.            H 

n373u;n 

i73"iu;n 
n373"m;n 

1731^                   ." 

n373iu; 

DU>in 

cu^n 

Diurr 

D"ny    Infinitive. 

D>W?3 

DTi;  Part.  aft. 

D^yiTD 

DWa 

DIU;  Part.  paff. 

A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  27 


Lamed  He. 


1 7.  Befide  the  changes  of  n,  in  the  following  ex- 
ample of  verbs  Lamed  He,  it  is  fometimes  changed  in- 
to '»  ;  as.   In  "iDn,  for  nnon  ;  and  into  1   ;  as,  in 

'iniSu^,  for  •»niSty. 

18.  nnu^,  he  bowed  down,  not  only  tranfpofes  the 
chara£terlftic  n  with  its  firft  radical  V  in  Hithpael,* 
but   inferts    1  between  the  two  laft  radicals  j    as, 

nnntyn,  for  nnntr^- 

19.  Sometimes  verbs  Lamed  He  are  declined  reg- 
ularly; as,  nns:,  nn^j,  n^j. 

20.  The  imperative  of  verbs  Lamed  He  frequent- 
ly lofes  the  radical  n,  in  all  the  conjugations  j  as, 
Sj,  for  r>Si  ;  Sjnh,  for  nSjnn. 

21.  1  converfivef  prefixed  to  the  future,  the  neg- 
ative particle  Sj<  before  it,  and  fuffixes,  ufually  caufe 
n  radical  to  be  cut  off  ;  as,  tDT\  for  T^V'^'^'y ;  l^t^V, 

for  ijntyj?. 

22.  Thefe  two  verbs,  n%i  he  was,  and  nin,  he 
lived,  often  lofe  the  radical  n  in  the  future,  wheth- 
er 1  converfive  or  Sk  are  prefixed,  or  not.} 


*See  Sea.   VI 11.  No.   12. 
t  See  Sea.   VIIL   No.    10. 

:j:  Verbs  ending  with  x  fometimes  omit  it  ;  as,  >ni£"'  for  nK^i*-, 
/  wf?*?  o«/  .•  itana  for  X1t!rr?2,  /ro;n  finning. 

The  infinitive  often  affumes  n  at  the  end  ;  as,  HK^ba  for  i<i^?3, 

The  third  perfon  feminine  fingular  fometimes  ends  in  h,  in- 
ftead  of  rr  ;  as,  n^c•^p  for  nx-ip,  fj^e   called. 

The  verb  nu;:,  ^^  Ufted  up,  fometimes  in  the  paffive  participle 
•f  Kal  changes  h  into  ^  ;  as,  ^iiyj  for  k\^^. 


28 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


O 


-13 


ex 


22      »« 
o    ^1 

a 

o 
u 

<u 


o 

d 

W 


PRETER. 

o 

«^ 

^ 

p£ 

od 

^              «-> 

■J 

■< 

"rt 

< 

D 

« 

B<-s 

O 

•^   •n    «^    •-» 

CO 

'^  *-«  »-i 

»~    s-     r     r 

n  c  £ 

^ 

5" 

FUTURE. 


fL  C  C  C  3S 

-2    j^    "^    »-t    *> 

^  JI  JI  *-  JI 


-'-FCC'^        cup 

.  JI  .  Q.- 


^^nnJiJi  SnnnJi 


rt 


O    O 


JinnjiSnnnn 

Ii_P;^A-P-3  P^P-(i.P- 

*-     r      „     f-    r      r     r 

c  C  "^   C  C  P 


•i  ^  r  r.  n  r.  -T-  r_  n  r. 


.^  w  i^ii  i^  Ji  P  *-»  'I  •-«  *-• 


"^  *•    r~  C  C  35 

'-'  '^   ir-«   .-I   1   •^ 

r.  n  -^  JI 


s  ?;.  c  n  c  sff 

u  |r-p^p-p.p- 

z  r^  '^  '^  '^  '^ 
=  '-  JI  JI  '^  JI 


< 

t)  fx  i*  *-•  L.  ^ 

5  l^p^p^iS^P^ 
-  J^  n  JI  *-  JI 


g  p  c  c  C  3C 
1  R  c  n  c  r. 

I T-  r  r,  ^  i: 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


29 


FUTURE. 

IMPER. 

h 

5 

0 

< 

:i 

o5 

h 

■< 

J              < 

(^ 

ti 

»  f;  C  C  C  7? 

0  fi-fi.^  Ii-fs^ 

p- 

*-* 

r- 

r     *-    r     IZ. 

p- 
tz 

n      n 

IZ 

r 

•s 

o4                     • 

■i 

<                  i 

i  s-tF-g-S- 

B- 

J   i-!    •o    '-•'-»    •p 

li  «^  'n  J  *~i  "^ 

•-» 

^J5, 

t      ::.  '~  ^  f^ 

5JI-   p.-  P, 

c 

n 

Ji      n 

Jl 

«^             ; 

J 

<        i 

i  &-F_F-B.S- 

gE.{Ls{L{L 

n 

a 

rS- 

li- 

i'-ftP^'^ 

2H- i^S 

1 
tz 

n      ji 

n 

■j 

-d 

•< 

.ij 

"»!  c   r~  i~  r"  '^ 

2  i^h-B-E-I^ 

3 

{L 

15 

p- 

r  *^  '^  '^  '^  P 

4~) 

d 

*-» 

tz       JZ 

0 

^2; 

tz 

•i 

<         d 

<  p  c  c  c  p 

£  l-B-Rg-g- 

*•      '^  *-  '^  jz 

^  n  tz  ^  n  rz 

n 

Q 

i  B-&.3  R-R- 

&- 

r- 

tz 

tz      n 

n 

E 


3©  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


Pe  Nun. 

23.  Verbs  Pe  Nun  drop  i  in  the  imperative  and 
infinitive  of  Kal ;  which  infinitive  takes  the  termina- 
tion n ;  as,  nSiD,  from  Ssj. 

24.  When  any  of  the  ferviles,  X,  n,  •»,  12,  i,  n, 
are  prefixed,  the  radical  i  is  ufually  omitted ;  as, 
Sbn«  for  hsix :  except  the  future,  imperative,  and  in- 
finitive of  Niphal,  where  the  radical  i  is  retained. 

25.  When  the  fecond  radical  is  SJ,  m,  n,  or  JT, 
verbs  Pe  Nun  are  generally  regular  ;  as,  X^^"^  from 
VKJ,  to  defpije, 

26.  The  following  verbs  follow  all  the  irregulari- 
ties of  Pe  Nun  ;  n:%  he  left,  1D'>,  he  chafiifed,  DX"», 
he  appointed,  52f"»,  he  placed,  J^V**,  he  fpread,  pf'i,  he 
poured  out,  •1V"»,  he  for?ned,  nx"»,  he  burned,  and  rjpi, 
he  compaffed  about, 

27.  The  verb  j?nS  is  once  defeftive  of  the  firft 
radical  ;  thus,  "i^^ni.  Job,  IV.  10.  for  "^ynH'J,  are 
broken, 

28.  Sometimes  1  is  inferted  between  the  two  laft 
radicals  of  the  future  of  Kal  of  verbs  Pe  Nun  ;  as, 
S"0%  Pfalm,  I.  3.  S"\Bn,  Job,  XXXI.  22.  Sir% 
Ifai.  X.  34. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


3' 


Example  of  the  conjugations  and  declenfion  of  verbs 
Pe  Nun. 
SsJ,  befell 


Hophal. 
singular. 

tAstt 

PLURAL. 

Dnbsn 

Hiphil. 

SINGULAR. 

b*Drr 
nbsn 

PLURAL. 

cnbsn 

Niphal. 

SINGULAR. 
bS3 

n'7S3 
nbs3 

PLURAL. 

1^233 

onbss 
inbs3 

i:bs3 

Kal. 

SINGULAR^ 

bj93,  /if. 
nbS3,  Jhe. 
nb33,  Mw,  c. 
>nb2J3             ., 

PLURAL.           5 

1V2J3          r 

WbB3 

SINGULAR. 

bun 

PLURAL. 

TOVsn 
nabsn 

SINGULAR. 

b-un 
b>sn 

PLURAL. 

SINGULAR. 

VS3* 

bB3n 

PLURAL. 
>bS3» 

nabsin 
nabsin 

bS32 

SINGULAR. 

ban 

PLURAL.        Q 

ibsn 
nibsn 

Not  ufed. 

SINGULAR. 
PLURAL. 

SINGULAR. 

''bsan 

PLURAL. 

"ibain 

SINGULAR. 

> 

PLURAL.          H 

ban 

'j^an 

bs3rr 

nbfi  Infinitive. 

b^sn 

'ji)l3  Part,  ad. 

bijn 

bw 

bliJS  Part.  paffL 

3^2  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


OiN    DOUBLED. 

29.  Verbs  Oin  doubled,  in  the  firft  and  fecond  con- 
jugations, ufually  omit  the  fecond  radical  ;    as,  SD, 

for  35D. 

30.  In  the  firft  and  fecond  conjugations,  1  is  ufual- 
ly inferted  before  the  terminations  of  the  firft  and 
fecond  perfons  preter  ;  and  "»  before  the  feminine 
plural  termination  nJ,  in  the  future  and  imperative. 

3 1 .  Sometimes  1  is  inferted  between  the  two  firft 
radicals  ;  as,  ITD  ;  m^DHn.  This  generally  takes 
place  in  Hithpael,  which  otherwife  is  regular. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


5o 


Example  of  the  conjugations  and  declenfion  of  verbs 

OiN    DOUBLED. 

D3D,  he  went  about. 


Hophal. 

Hiphil. 

Niphal. 

Kal. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGUXAR. 

SINGULAR. 

iDirr 

non 

1D3 

ID,    /^(T. 

niDin 

nion 

nana 

niD,  Jhe.    ' 

niaoin 

niaon 

nuD3 

nilD*  ifAoj/,  c. 

^niiDin 

^niiDn 

-miDS 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL.            g 

^iDin 

"IIDH 

llDi 

P4 

ontnoin 

cnncn 

bniaoa 

omao 

131SD3 

"lillD 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

iDV 

2D^ 

ID* 

aiD^ 

lamn 

:iDn 

aon 

aion 

iDin 

iiDn 

son 

lion 

^HDin 

^:iDn 

"10  n 

"•lion 

noiN 

::dm 

3D^e 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL.          ^ 

11D1> 

11  D» 

tlD* 

IIID^                  .« 

n3>aDin 

nation 

ns^ion 

n3"'itDn 

"taDtn 

non 

tson 

iiicn 

na^iDin 

n:''iDn 

n3"'iDn 

ns^aon 

:iDi3 

1D3 

3D3 

1103 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

SINGULAR. 

ion 

ion 

:i>D              i 

Not  ufed. 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

*11D                   5 
PLURAL.           ^ 

tiDn 

lion 

111D                    J" 

n:>acin 

n3^iDn 

ns^iD 

iDin 

norr 

aiort 

aiD   Infinitive. 

1D)3 

HID  Part.  aft. 

SD^n 

SlDJ 

aviD  Part,  paff. 

34-  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

Lamed  Nun  or  Tau. 

32.  Verbs  Lamed  Nun  or  Tizz/,  when  their  perfon- 

al  terminations  begin  with  1  or  n,  commonly  drop 

their  lad  radical  ;  as,  nJDs>tfn,  Ifai.  LX.  4.  tbeyjhalt 

be  nurfedi  or  fupported,  for  nJ^Ds^^n,  from  jDNt,  to 

fupport  :    *>r\'D\  Gen.  XIX.  19.  for  -JrinDI,  /  Jhall 

die. 

33.  The  verb  fHi,  to  give,  not  only  drops  its 
initial  i,  according  to  No.  24.  of  this  Se6t.  and 
its  final  one  before  a  perfonal  termination  beginning 
with  i  ;  but  alfo  generally  lofes  its  final  J  before  a 
perfonal  termination  beginning  with  n  j  as,  "^nni,  / 
kanie  given ^  for  '>nini. 

34.  The  infinitive  of  jn J  is  ufually  T\TSy  or  TSrsT\ 
with  n  paragogic,  for  n^n.* 

35.  Many  Hebrew  words  are  doubly  imperfect,  or 
irregular,  chiefly  fuch  as  have  ">  or  i  for  the  fir  ft  let- 
ter, and  n  for  the  laft.  Thus,  we  find  Job,  XIX. 
2.  p^JTl  fecond  perfon  mafculine  plural  of  the  fu- 
ture of  Hiph.  from  n5"»,  to  affiiEl  ;  Pfalm,  LXXV.  2. 
1J''T^r%  firft  perfon  plural  of  the  preter  of  Hiphily 
from  m%  to  confefs  :  Gen.  XII.  8.  U'',  third  per- 
fon mafculine  fmgular  of  the  future  of  Kaly  from 
r^D;?,  to  extend  :  Exod.  IX.  1 5.  it<,  firft  perfon 
lingular  future  of  Kal,  from  nSi,  to  finite. 

36.  When  the  middle  radical  is  irregular,  the  ex- 
tremes are  regular  \  as,  Dli,  which  never  lofes  its 
firfl  radicaL 

37*  If  both  or  either  of  the  extremes  be  irregular, 
the  middle  radical  is  regular  ;  as,  n^i,  which  never 
lofes  its  middle  radical  :  hence  it  follows,  that,  if 
but  one  radical  appear  in  a  verb,  it  is  always  the  mid- 
dle  one  ;  as^   ivfl^    from    niJ  ;  and  the    radical 


*  nn  or  nnn  fcems,  fametimes,  to  be  ufed  for  fecond  per&o 
psreter  of  Ival.     See  IL  Sam.  22,  41. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  35 

wanting  at  the  beginning  is  either  •»  or  J,  and  at  the 
end,  n. 


SECTION    X. 


OF    VERBS    WITH    SUFFIXES. 

1.  Verbs  have  the  fame  fuffixes  which  nouns  have : 
and  thefe  three  befides,  viz.  ''J,  me,  com.  ^i,  him  or 
it  ;  riJ,  her  or  it. 

2.  A  fuffix  to  a  verb,  in  the  indicative  or  impera- 
tive, always  fignifies  a  perfonal  pronoun  in  fome  ob- 
lique cafe  ;*  as,  ""Jlps,  vifitavit  me  ;  he  viftted  me  : 
*>ir^}r\^,  dedifli  mihi  ;  thou  haji  given  to  me  :  T^\ 
commorabitur  tecum  ;  he  Jhall  dwell  with  thee, 

3.  A  fuffix  to  an  Infinitive  may  fignify  either  an 
agent,  or  a  patient  ;  that  is,  a  pronoun,  either  in 
the  nominative,  or  fome  oblique  cafe  ;  as,  ^>><1p3, 
when  he  cries  ;  1*lJ2U?^,  to  keep  him. 

4.  Verbs  Lamed  He  lofe  n  before  the  fuffixes  ; 
as,  ^W^,  for  iJnu^;;,  he  hath  made  us. 

5.  y  epenthetic  is  fometimes  inferted  between  the 
fuffixes,  iJ,  1,  irn,  n,  and  a  verb  in  the  future  ;  as, 
'>::i35'',  for  '':iD5>,  he  Jhall  honor  me. 

6.  The  perfonal  termination  ^  is  often  dropped  be- 
fore a  fuffix  ;  as,  nU^Si,  for  n^t^»25.     Gen.  I.  28. 

7.  Participles  have  the  fame  fuffixes  which  nouns 
have  ;  as,  ^*>11J,%   he/ping  him,  or  his  helpers. 


*  That  is,  anfwering  to  fome   cafe  different  from  the  Nomina- 
tive, in  Latin,  6(c. 


36  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

SECTION     XI. 

OF    THE    VERB    ti^"»  ;    REDUPLICATIVE,    AND    PLURI- 
LITERAL    VERBS. 

1.  C^"*,  he  is,  or  they  are,  has  rather  the  nature  of  a 
noun  than  of  a  verb,  in  this  refped,  that  it  takes  the 
fame  fuffixes  as  nouns,  inftead  of  the  perfonal  termin- 
ations of  verbs  ;  as,  "'U^%  thou  art  ;  05'*:^%  you  or 
ye  are.  See  the  word,  in  Parkhurft's  and  Pike's  He- 
brew Lexicons. 

2.  Reduph'cative  verbs  have  the  lajl,  the  Jirji  and 
Jaji,  or  the  two  laji  radicals  doubled.  They  are  de- 
rived from  fmiple  verbs  ;  as,  from  ^"^ji  are  derived 
SSa  and  Shi  ;  from  S^p,  SSp  and  SpSp  ;  from 
13rn,  "|?5?n  ;  from  iriD,  "innno.  Such  verbs  are  de- 
clined regularly. 

3.  Pluriliteral  verbs  confifl:  of  more  than  three  let- 
ters in  their  root  ;  as,  DD"l5  to  wajie,  or  root  up  ,- 
'^SlS,  to  inveji.  The  few  times  they  occur,  they  are 
declined  regularly. 


SECTION     XII. 


OF    PARTICLES. 


1.  Under  the  denomination  of  particles,*  are  in- 
cluded adverbs,  conjunftions,  prepofitions,  and  inter- 
jedlions. 

2.  Particles  have  fuffixes  like  nouns  fmgular  ;  as, 
TIJJ,  before  him. 

3.  Some  particles  imitate  nouns  plural  in  regimen  j 

*  See  Sea.   HI.  No.  4. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  ^^ 

as,  '>inK,  after,  which,  with  fome  others,  requires  the 
fame  fuffixes  which  nouns  plural  do. 

4.  Thefe  three  particles,  j**!*,  not,  njn,  behold,  ll;?, 
yet,  for  a  fuffix  of  the  third  perfon  mafculine  fingular, 
take  the  verbal  one  "(J  ;  as,  "iJJ''i<,  not  he.* 

5.  Particles  often  govern  the  infinitive  mode. 


SECTION     XIII. 

SYNTAX. 


1.  Two  or  more  fubftantives  fignifying  the  fame 
perfon,  or  thing,  are  regularly  of  the  fame  number, 
by  appofition  ;  as,  "JlDj;  HU^D,    Mofes,  ?ny  fervant.'\ 

2.  In  Hebrew  an  adjective  ufually  agrees  with  its 
fubftantive  in  gender  and  number  ;  as,  ZD5n  p,  a 
wife/on  ;  rhii  ni^D,  great Jlrokes.  We  meet,  how- 
ever, with  fuch  expreflions  as  thefe,  rhii  1^'^iy,  great 
cities  ;    Deut.  I.    28.   VI.  10. — irhl^  a'>:Dtt,    great 

Jlones  ;  Deut.  XXVII.  2. — m3D  a*>JNn  and  nip, 
good  and  bad  figs  ;  Jer.  XXIV.  2.  and  3. — SD'^/'lJn 
mKDn,  the  great  lights  ;  Gen.  I.  16.  As  to  the 
three  firft  phrafes,  it  has  been  obferved,  Sed.  IV.  No. 
21.  Note  2d,  that  fome  feminines  plural  end  in  uD'»  : 
and,  perhaps,  in  fuch  expreflions  as  c'^un  niNCm, 
the  adjective  with  a  termination  ufually  mafculine  is 
joined  with  a  feminine  fubftantive,  as  a  mark  of  digni- 
ty or  excellence. 

3.  Participles  agree  with  fubftantives,  in  the  fame 
manner  that  adjedives  do. 

*  See  Sea.  VIl.   No.    7.  and  Sed.    X.  No.    i.  * 

■\  Except  nouns  which   imply  dominion  or    power,  particularly 

fome  of  the  names  of  God  ;  which,  although  plural,  may  be  ia 

appofition  with  nouns  fingular. 

F 


38  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

4.  When  two  fubflantives  of  different  genders  have 
the  fame  adje£tive,  that  adjeftive  is  ufually  of  the 
niafculine  gender  ;  as.  Job,  I.  13.  a'^^Sx  I^HJ^^  *i"»iS, 
his  fens  and  his  daughters  eating. 

5.  When  two  fubflantives,  one  of  which  is  fingu- 
lar,  and  the  other  plural,  or  both  being  fmgular, 
have  one  adjedlive,  or  participle,  that  adjective  or 
participle  is,  ufually,  in  the  plural  number  ;  as, 
C'^i^Dn  r^&l)^  •'JSI  tJJ^,  /  a7id  my  Jon  Solomon 
(ihdW  ho)  finning.  iKings,  I.  21.  This  rule  applies 
to  pronouns  ;  as,  CDHS^  ssiD  nDpJI  15?,  Juale  and 
female  (or,  as  for  the  male  and  female)  created  he 
them.     Gen.  I.  27. 

6.  A  colkdive  noun,  or  a  noun  of  multitude,  though 
fmgular,  may  have  a  plural  adjedive  ;  as, 
D''5i5  rnin"'  S^,  ail  Judah  coming.  Jer.  VII.  2.— . 
D''^^nt:  D5?ri,  the  people  piping,     i  Kings,  I.  40. 

7.  A  plural  noun  of  dominion  may  have  a  Angular 
adjedive  ;  as,  MC^p  D"'i"lN,  a  cruel  lord  (lords). 

8.  An  adjedive  fmgular  is  fometimes  joined  to  a 
plural  noun  in  a  difiributive  fenfe  ;  as,  "TiDrti^D  '^ti^'', 
right  are  thy  judgments  (i.  e.  every  one  of  them). 
Pfalm,  CXIX.  137.— "11-lKI^I-lK, //j^_y  who  curfe  thee 
are  curfed  (i.  e.  each  one  of  them).  Gen.  XXVII.  29. 

9.  An  adjedive,  referring  to  the  former  of  two 
fubflantives,  fometimes  agrees  with  the  latter  5  as, 
zy>r\n  CTISH  nti^p,  the  bow  of  the  mighty  men  (is) 
broken. 

10.  A  verb  commonly  agrees  with  its  noun  in 
number,  gender,  and  perfon  ;  as,  yi"'  DlJ^m,  and  Ad- 
am knew.  Gen.  IV.  i.  nn*»n  '^*\^T\,  the  earth  was. 
Gen.  I.  2. 

11.  Sometimes  a  mafculine  verb  is  joined  to  a 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  39 

feminine  noun,  to  fliow  excellence  and  dignity  j  as, 

12.  A  feminine  verb  may  be  joined  to  a  mafculine 
noun,  or  pronoun,  to  exprefs  fomething  bafe  and 
mean  j  as,  nsy^n  \r\^VV'f 

13.  A  verb  fmgular  joined  with  a  noun  plural,  or  a 

verb  plural  with  a  noun  fmgular,  often  fignifies  dif- 

tribuHvely  ;   as,  'yn^Ts  r^^Vr^  niDnS,  the  heap  of  the 

field  Q..  e.  each  of  the  beads) yZ?^//  cry.    Joel,  I.  20. 

ytyn ID  J,  the  wicked  (i.  e.  every  wicked  man)^?^^. 

Prov.  XXVIII.  1. 

14.  When  two  nouns  of  different  genders  have  the 
fame  verb,  that  verb  is  ufually  of  the  mafculine  gen- 
der ;  as,  \^)My\  ECCtrn  lSb''%  and  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  were  finijhed.     Gen.  11.   i. 

15.  When  feveral  fmgular  nouns  have  the  fame 
verb,  that  verb  may  be  put  in  the  plural  number  ;  as, 

hdhSd  ^V'^  H'yim ^nDjyS-ni — i^^ns:,    Jrioch, 

Chederlaomer,  and  Tidal  made  war.     Gen.  XIV.  i. 
and  2. 

16.  A  noun  of  multitude,  though  fmgular,  may 
have  a  plural  verb  ;  as,  n^*n  "nDN")  p,  lejl  the  land 
Jhallfay.     Deut.  IX.  28. 

17.  Nouns  plural,  when  they  denote  the  parts  of 
one  whole,  are  fometimes  joined  with  verbs  fmgular  ; 
as,  niKD  Tl^  there  Jhall  be  lights^  that  is,  a  collection 
of  lights. 

18.  Sometimes  verbs  in  the  future,  when  not  pre- 
fixed with  "1  converfive,  and  not  in  connexion  with  a 


*  Gen.  XXIV.   14.         t  Ezek.  XXXIII.  26. 


40  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

word  prefixed  with  it,  have  the  fignification  of  verbs  irl 
the  preter  ;  as,  D-inTl  Ss  S^^K  ntTJ?''  1155,  thus  did 
yob  all  the  days.     Job,  I.  5. 

19.  Sometimes  a  verb  in  the  infinitive  has  the  fig- 
nification of  fome  perfon  in  another  mode  ;  and  it 
mufh  depend  upon  the  fenfe  and  connexion  to  deter- 
mine its  fignification.     Sec  Seft.  IX.  No.  34.    Note. 

20.  The  mafcuHne  noun  plural  D'^n^N,  when  mean- 
ing the  true  God  (the  adorable  Trinity),  is  frequent- 
ly joined  with  verbs  fingular,  to  exprefs  the  unity  of 
elTence  and  operation  ;  as,  D'^uSk  KID,  God  created* 
Gen.  I.  I. 

2 1 .  Hebrew  verbs  are  often  joined  with  their  infini- 
tives, which  may  then  be  rendered  as  participles  ac- 
tive, or  as  the  Latin  gerunds.  This  kind  of  ex- 
preflion    denotes    fucceffion    or    continuance    ;     as, 

ij?-ir  nK  nanK  nD-ini  iDn^N  ns,  in  bkjjtng  (or,  to 

blefs)  /  will  hlefs  thee.,  and,  in  multiplying,  I  will  mul- 
tiply thy  feed  :  that  is,  I  will  continually  blefs  thee,  and 
multiply  thy  feed.     Gen.  XXII.  17.* 

22.  The  fubftantive  verbs,  M*'!!  and  t^^"',  he  was,  &c. 
are  often  omitted. 


*  Thus,  Ifai.  VI.  9.  rJ^T\  hH^  ^x-i  ^xTi  ^3^in  bxi  yin^y  iy?3u;, 
hear^  in  hearing  (i.  e.  be  continually  hearing),  and  ye  Jhall  not  per- 
ceive ;  and  fee,  in  feeing  (i  e.  be  continually  feeing),  aw  J  j»f/W/ «o# 
hnoiu.  Gen.  II.  16.  and  17.  Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  h^iUDhsHt 
thou  fait  or  mayefi  continually  eat  ;  but  of  the  tree  of  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil  thou/lialt  not  eat  of  it,  &c. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  41 

SECTION    XIV. 

GRAMMATICAL    FIGURES. 

1 .  The  Hebrews  fometitnes  make  ufe  of  enallage  ; 
as,  IS  ^D"\n.  Pf.  II.  12.  iS  ^D^n.  Ifai.  XXX.  18.  In 
thefe  inftances,  the  conftruded  form  is  ufed  for  the 
abfolute. 

2.  Paragoge  frequently  occurs.  See  the  example 
of  the  conjugations  and  declenfion  of  regular  verbs. 

3.  Ellipfis  is  frequent,  particularly  of  the  particles, 
and  the  fubftantive  verbs,  ITTI  and  ti^**.  See  Sed. 
XIII.  No.  22.     Pleonafm  is  often  ufed. 

4.  Aphasrefis  fometimes  takes  place  in  the  impera- 
tive of  Hiphil  of  verbs  Oin  Vau,  &c.  See  Se£l  IX. 
No.  16. 

5.  Epenthefiis  is  fometimes  ufed.  See  Seft.  X. 
No.  5. 

6.  Apocope  fometimes  occurs.  See  Se£t.  VIII. 
No.  8.     Note  2d. 


42  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


SECTION    XV. 

DIRECTIONS  FOR    FINDING    THE  ROOT  IN    HEBREW 
LEXICONS. 

1.  The  root^  whence  words  of  like  fignificatiGn  are 
derived,  is  commonly  a  verb  in  the  third  perfon  maf- 
culine  fingular  of  the  preter  of  Kal. 

2.  A  root  ufually  confifts  of  three  letters. 

3.  To  find  a  root,  caft  away  all  the  ferviles  j*  if 
three  radicals  remain,  you  have  the  root  ;  as, 
DrT'n*)*lJDDD,  out  of  their  clofe  places,  from  n*i:iDD,  found 
in  the  lexicon  under  "nJiD  ;  D"'j;tl^"l,  impious,  from  ;7{!?1. 

4.  If,  after  the  ferviles  are  caft  away  from  a  word, 
there  remain  two  radicals  only,  the  root  is  an  irregular 
verb  ;  in  fuch  cafe,,  add  ">  or  J  to  the  beginning  of  the 
word  ;  thus,  in  nyi/l.  Gen.  II.  9.  H  is  a  prefix  (em- 
phatic), Seft.  V.  No.  3.  n  is  the  feminine  termination  ; 
J7*1  remains  ;  but,  not  finding  this  in  a  two-lettered 
form,  add  ''  to  the  beginning,  and  you  will  have  the 
root. 

5.  If,  after  the  prefixes  and  formative  letters  are 
rejected,  one  letter  only  fhould  remain,  the  root  is  a 
doubly  imperfect  verb  ;  and,  in  order  to  find  it,  add 
*>  or  i  to  the  beginning,  and  n  to  the  end  :  thus,  in 
0^''%  Gen.  XIV.  15.  1  is  a  prefix  ;  "^  is  the  fign  of  the 
third  perfon  mafculine  fing.  future,  and  D  is  a  fuffix, 
the?n  ;  there  remains  5  only,  to  which  prefix  1,  and 
fuffix  n,  and  you  have  the  root. 


*  See  Se6l.  II.  No.  4.  and  5.  The  learner  fliould  know  what 
letters  are  fervlle,  and  what  the  ufe  of  the  ferviles  is,  in  forming 
prefixes,  fiiffixeSf  xX\t  plural  number  of  nouns,  the  conjugations  and 
perfons  of  verbs,  &c. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  43 

6.  Sometimes,  though  rarely,  the  root  confifls  of 
but  two  letters  ;  as,  Mi,  or  ;  JJ,  a  roof.     And, 

7.  Sometimes  the  root  confifls  of  four  or  five  let- 
ters ;  as,  DD15,  be  wq/led  ;  IHinD,  he  panted.*  See 
Sea.  XI.  No.  2.  and  3. 


*  In  moft  Hebrew  Lexicons,  the  roots  are  placed  in  alphabet- 
ical order  ;  and  all  the  branches  proceeding  from  a  root  are  placed 
after  it. 

It  is  needlefs  to  be  more  particular  on  this  fubjeft,  fince  alnaoft 
every  Hebrew  Lexicon  gives  diredlions  for  finding  the  root. 


44  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

-GRAMMATICAL  EXERCISES. 
Exercise  I. — Exa?nples  of  the  ufe  of  Prefixes 
J.     1SDD,  in  a  book. 

tXf^,  in  this. 

lyStD,  with  honey, 
"IpsDj  in  v'lfiting. 

2.  "l^Dn,  the^  that,  or  0  king. 
DMn,  they. 

nj?in,  who  fed. 

3.  1^)31,  and  a  king. 

4.  VV^j  ^^  ^  ^'"^^• 
■Ip25,  M^  viftting. 

5.  aj?^,  /o,  o/",  or  for  a  people. 
riDS^,  in  fafety. 

IpsS,  /(?  1;/^/. 

6.  rr^lD,  from  the  wind. 
ti^DID,  /«  comparifon  of  honey. 

•IpsD,  /j6^/  /j(?  might  not  vifit :  or,  frotn  viftting. 

7.  m)^*>V,  who fhall  take. 


Exercise  II. — Words  in  regimen.     Words  with  fuf 
fixes,  'Q'c. 

1.  Yl)J  lil^,  in  the  garden-of  Eden. 

2.  p7K  iXy,  a  leaf -of  an  oak  tree. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  45 


EXPLANATIONS. 

1.  ISO  is  amafculine  noun fingular, prefixed  with  3,  fig- 

nifying  i?i.  See  §  V.  No.  2. — ^^SD  is  abfolute  ;  § 
IV.   19.     It  is  declined  like  "OT  ;    §   IV.   27. 

D  is  a  prefix,  as  above.  MT  is  a  demonftrative  pro- 
noun ;   §  VI.  5. 

S  is  a  prefix,  &c. 

1p3D  is  a  gerund  in  3  ;   §  VIII.  13. 

2.  n  is  a  prefix  ;   §  V.  3. 

n  is  a  prefix,  as  above.     It  is  here  emphatic.     DM 

is  a  perfonal  pronoun  ;   §  VI.  3. 
n  is  a  prefix,  fignjfying  u/ho  ;  §  V.  3.    nj;^  is  a  verb 

Lamed  He,  3d  perfon  fing.  mafc.  preter  of  Kal. 

3.  *i  is  a  prefix,  fignifying  and  ;   §  V.  4. 

4.  5  is  a  prefix.     §  V.  5. 

•Tps5  is  a  gerund  in  5  ;   §  VIII.  13. 

5.  *?  is  a  prefix  j   §  V.  6. 

7  is  a  prefix,. as  in  the  preceding  word, 
A  gerund  in  ^  ;  §  VIII.  13. 

6.  D  is  a  prefix  ;   §  V.  7. 

D  is  a  prefix,  fignifying  in  comparifon  of ;  §  V.  7. 
A  gerund  in  Dj   §  VIII.  13. 

7.  tif  is  a  prefix.     *nN''  is  a  verb  Pe  Aleph,  in  the  3d 

perfon  fing.  mafc.  of  the  future  of  Kal ;  §  IX.  3, 


EXPLANATIONS. 


1.  p3  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  prefixed  with  D,  fignifying 

in.     It  is  in  regimen;  %  IV.  18. — pj?  is  amafcu- 
.  line  noun  fing.  abfolute  ;   §  IV.  1 9. 

2.  il'^V  ^s  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  with  a  fern,  termination  ; 

§  IV.  6.  Note.    It  is  in  regimen. — '^^ii  is  a  mafcu- 
line  noun  fingular,  abfolute. 
G 


^46  A  HEBREW  4?RAMMAR. 

3.  ni!T»      nmn,  the  law-of  Jehovah, 

4.  I'^ttM     n^HK,  aftfier-cfthe  king. 

5.  Mirr*     TsY\'^^  the  righteou/TieJks'of  Jehovah. 

6.  njiJtr     "i-lSn,  -words-of  hatred. 

7'  ^^     '**^'1J^>  uncircumclfed-of  heart. 

8.  '•I^J?,     my  fervanu 

11.  anvi'^'^iDfip,  out  of  their  clofe  places. 

12.  D>nSK  niDN-Jl,  andGodfaid. 

13.  Dynn^wSjKD,  he  rejufed  to  fend  away  the  people. 


A  ilEBlif V^'  GRAMMAR.  47 

EX  P  L  A  N  A  TIO  N  S. 

3.  ny\r\  is  a'  feminine  noun  fingular  iii  regimen,  de- 
clined like  np^j  §  IV.  28.  Rule  fot  regimen  No. 
18  ;  for  the  change  of  ri  at  the  end  of  the  ^ord  in- 
to n.  No.  22.  of  the  fame  fe6tibn.— hih'>'  is  a  ihafc. 
noun  fing.  with  a  fern,  termiiiaiion  ;  §  IV.  6.  Note. 

4.  ninK  is  a  fem.  noun  fmg.  declined  §  IV.  30.  The 
word  is  in  regimen,  No.  18.  of  the  fame  fed. — iSd 
is  a  mafc.  noun  fmg.  abfolute.     It  is  prefixed  with  »1. 

5.  JT^plX  is  a  fem.  noun  plur.  declined  §  IV.  28.  It 
is  in  regimen.  See  §  IV.  22. — tysr^  is  a  mafc.  noun 
fing.  abfolute,  as  explained  above. 

6.  *f\2r[  is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  in  regimen  :  D  is  caft 
away  from  the  end  ;  §  IV.  21. — HKJJif  is  a  fem. 
noun  fing.  declined  §  IV.  28. 

7.  ''Snj;  is  a  paff.  part,  in  Kal,  declined  §  IV.  32.  See 
alfo  No.  20.  of  the  fame  fedion. — 3^  is  a  male,  noun 
fing.  abfalute. 

8.  "JlSj?  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  fuffixed  with  1,  fignifying 
my.  See  §  VII.  i.  It  may  alfo  be  plur.  fuffixed 
with  "» ;  Noi  2.  of  the  fame  feftion.  • 

9.  "»i13l  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  fuffixed  with  U,  fignify- 
ing our  ;  §  VII.  I. 

I  o.  "^tyKI,  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  fuffixed  with  %  his  ; 
§  VII.  I. 

11.  » is  a  prefix,  fignifying  out  of.  Dn^n^iJDIDttls  a  fem. 
noun  plur.  fuffixed  with  OH,  fignifying  their  ;  §  VII. 
3,  The  fing.  is  n'lIlDD,  found  in  the  Lexicon  under 
the  root  "»JD. 

12.  nttN^'^is  a  verb  Pe  Aleph  ;  §  IX.  3.  found  in  the 
third  per.  fing.  of  the  future  of  Kal,  prefixed  with  \ 
which  converts  the  future  into  the  preter  ;  §  VIII. 
ID. — D%1^K  is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  with  which  nDK'» 
agrees  ;    §  XIII.  20. 

13.  [ND  is  a  verb  Lamed  Nun  ;  §  IX.  32.  found  in  the 
third  per.  fing.  preter  of  Kal,  agreeing  with  Kin  un- 
derftood  j  §  VI.  3. — n^U^S  is  a  gerund  in  Lamed  ; 
§  VIII.  13.  oyn  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  prefixed 
with  n,  fignifying  the. 


4$ 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


I. 


Verfe  .. 
D^KDn  imsi  D'^vty"!  rii'^D 


Exercise  III. — Ffalm  I. 

Verfe  i . 
Blefled  is  the  man  who 
v/alketh  not  in  the  conn- 
fcl  of  the  ungodly,  nor 
flandeth  in  the  way  of  fin- 
ners,  nor  fitteth  in  tlie  feat 
of  the  fcornful. 


Verfe  i. 


Fifr/t'   2. 
But  his  delight  is  in  the 
law  of  the  Lord  ;  and  in 
his  law  doth   he  meditate 
day  and  night. 


-    A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  49 

EXPLANATIONS. 

Ver.  I.  ">ltyN  is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  in  regimen, com- 
ing before  t^Kn,  §  IV.  1 8.  The  phrafe,  V^ari  ^^^H, 
literally,  in  Englifh,  is,  O  the  bleflednefles  of  the  man. 

nU^K  wants  the  fmg.  numb. *^''Xn  is  a  mafc.  noun 

fmg.  prefixed  with  n,  fignifying  the  ;  ,§  V.  3. Iti^K 

is  a  relative  pronoun  ;  §  VI.  6. K^  is  a  particle  ;  § 

III.  4.  and  §  XII.  I. — — "p^  is  a  regular  verb,  found  in 
the  third  per.  fmg.  mafc.  of  the  preter  of  Kal ;  §  VIII. 

8. nvj73   is  a  fem.  noun  fmg.  prefixed  with  D,  fig. 

nifying  in.     It  is  in  regimen,  as  it  comes  before  D^ytyi, 

which  is  an  adje£live  plur.  mafc.  ufed  fubflantively. 

T\131  is  a  mafc.  noun  fmg.  in  regimen,   prefixed  with 

%  fignifying  and,  and  with  D,  fignifying  in. D''Nl3n 

is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  abfolute  ;  or,  rather  a  participle 
mafc.  plur.  abfolute  of  Kal,  from  ii^r\,toJin,  ufed  fubflan- 
tively.  kS  is  a  particle,  as  above. IDj;  is  a  reg- 
ular verb,  found  in  the  third  perfon  fing.  mafc.  of  the 
preter  of  Kal. Sti^lDDT  is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  in  reg- 
imen, coming  before  CD*'lk S.  It  is  prefixed  with  %  figni- 
fying and,  and  with  3,  fignifying  in. SD''i*'?  is  a  mafc. 

noun  plur.  abfolute. S<^  is  a  particle,  as  above. 

^^"^  is  a  verb  Pe  Yod,  found  in  the  third  perfon  fing. 
mafc.  of  the  preter  of  Kal ;  §  IX.  4. 

Ver.  2.  *i'D  and  E3K  are  particles.     Joined,  as  in  this 

place,  they  fignify  certainly,  or,  but  in  truth. ^n"TinU 

is  a  fem.  noun  fing.  in  regimen,  prefixed  with  3,  figni- 
fying in. n^rr*  is  a  mafc.   noun  fing.  with  a  fem. 

termination  ;   §  IV.  6.  Note.     It  is  abfolute. li'rn 

is  a  mafc.  noun  fing.  fuffixed  with  %  fignifying  his. — - 
in"\in3^  is  a  fem.  noun  fing.  prefixed  with  1,  fignifying 
and,   and  with   2,  fignifying  in  ;   and  fuffixed  with  1, 

fignifying  his. njn*i   is  a  verb  Lamed  He,  in   the 

third  perfon  fing.  mafc.  future  of  Kal  ;  §  IX.  22. 

DD^"*,  by  day  ;  in  the  day  time.     It  is  in  the  form  of  a 

particle,   from  d"',  a  day. M^'»7^  is  a  fem.   noun 

fing.  abfolute,  prefixed  with  1. 


5^ 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


Vcrfe  3. 

in^a-  in**  i^na  -»{:^K  a^iD 


F^r/^  3. 
And  he  fhall  be  like  ^ 
tree  planted  by  the  river* 
of  water,  that  bringeth 
fonh  his  fruit  in  his  fea- 
fon ;  his  leaf  alfo  fhall  nor 
wirhpF  •  and  whatfoever- 
he  doth  fhall  profper. 


Ytrfe  4. 


The  ungodly   are"  nbt" 
fo  ;  but  are  like  the  chaff 
which  the  wind  driveth  a- 
way. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR,  ft 

^X  PLANATIONS. 

i5?r.  3.  :tVi1V\  is  a  verb  Lamed  He  ;  §  IX.  22.  It  is 
found  in  the  third  perfon  fing.  mafc.  of  the  preter  of 
Kal,  converted  into  the  future  by  the  prefix  ^ ;  §  VIII. 

1.0.     It  agrees  with  »^v\  under ftood  ;  §  VI.  3. vys 

is  a  mafc.  noun  fmg.  prefixed  with  5,  fignifying  as, 
binty  is  a  paflive  participle  of  Kal,  from  the  reg- 
ular verb    SnC^,  and    declined    like  DID  ;    §  IV.  32, 

■■ ^y  is  a  particle. "^jI^s  is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  in 

regimen. I3'>t3  is  a  mafc.  noun  plur.  abfolute.     It  is 

irregularly  declined;  §  IV.  31. '^^^  is  a  relative 

pronoun  ;  §  VI.  6. T'ls  is  a  mafc.  noun  fmg.  fur- 
fixed  with  %  fignifying  his, jn^  is  a  verb  Pe  Nun 

and  Lamed  Nun  ;  §  IX.  2.  32.  and  33.  ft  is  found  in 
the  third  per.  fmg.  mafc.  of  the  future  of  Kal ;  §  XIII, 

18. inj;S  is  a  feminine  noun  fing.  prefixed  with  3, 

and  fuffixed  with  \     In  the  plur.  it  is  CSTij;  and  mnj?. 
-')nby^  is  a  mafc.  noun  with  a  feminine  termina- 
tion ;  §  IV.  6.  Note.     It  is  declined  §  IV.  3 1 .  prefix- 
ed with  \  and  fuffixed  with  \1  \  §  VII.  4. vh  is  a 

particle  ;  explained  above. SlS">  is  a  vf rb  Pe  Nun, 

found  in  the  third  per.  fing.  mafc.  of  the  future  of 
Yla]  ;  §  Y^.   aB..'..  ,.-751  is  an  adjedive  undeclined, 

fing.  and  plur.  prefixed  with  V lU^K  juft  explained, 

ntyy^  is  a  verb  Lamed  He,  found  in  the  third 

per.  fing.  mafc.  of  the  future  of  Kal. rr^b^;'"  is  a 

regular  verb,  found  in  the  third  per.  fing.  mafc.  of 
Hiphil. 

Ver,  4.     kS  and  p  are  particles.     They  have  been 

explained   above. C3'';?t^"in  is   an    adje£live   plur. 

mafc.  prefixed  with  ri ;   it  is  ufed  fubftantively. 

CDK  "i^  are  particles  ;  exp^ined  above. V'''25  is  a 

mafculine  noun   fing.   prefi|Xed  with  5. 1C'*N  is  a 

relative  pronoun. lisin  is  a  verb  Pe  Nun,  found 

in  the  third  perfon  fing.  fern,,  of  the  future  of  Kal,  fuf- 
fixed with  1.J  ;  §  X.  I.  It  agrees  with  mn,  which  is 
fern,  with  a  mafc.  termination  ;  §  IV.  2 1 .  Note  2d. 


5« 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


Verfe  5. 


a*>p*i-!y  i"n  nin*>  yii**  '>5 


F(fr/^  5. 
Therefore  the  ungodly 
fhall  not  ftand  in  the  judg- 
ment, nor  fmners  in  the 
congregation  of  the  righ- 
teous. 


Verfe  6. 
For  the  Lord  knoweth 
the  way  of  the  righteous  : 
but  the  way  of  the  ungod- 
ly fhall  perifh. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  53, 

EXPLANATIONS. 

Ver.  5.   vj;,  j5,  and  nS  are  particles.     They  have 

been  explained. "iDpi   is  a  verb  Oin  Vau  from 

Zyfp  ;  found  in  the  third  perfon  plur.  mafc.  of  the  fu- 
ture of  Kal  ;  §  IX.  15. 0''J?li^"l  has  been  explain- 
ed verfe   i.  and   4. D'^ti^ttS  is  a  mafculine  noun 

lingular,  prefixed  with   D. a''Kl3m  is  a  mafculine 

noun  plural,  prefixed  with  1. mj?S  is   a  feminine 

noun  lingular,  prefixed  with  S,  declined  like  rrpIV  ;  § 

IV.  28.     It  is  in  regimen,  as  it  comes  before  CD">p'>iy. 

S'lp'^iy  is  an  adjedive  plural  mafc.  declined  like 

nip  §  IV.  32. 


Ver»  6.  >5  Is  a  particle. J?*11"'  Is  an  adive  parti- 
ciple of  Kal,  from  the  verb  Pe  Yod  ^1*>.  It  is  de- 
clined like  SID  §  IV.  32.     See  alfo  §  XIII.  22. 

l"n  is  a  noun  with  a  mafculine  termination  ;  but  it  is 

frequently  feminine.     It  is  here  in  regimen. 

nD^p'^lif  is  an  adje£live,  explained  above. 1*11%  pre- 
fixed  with  %  jufl:  explained. CJ^ti^"!  explained. 

nSKn  is   a  verb  Pe  Aleph,  from    "13K.     It  is 

found  in  the  third  perfon  fingular  feminine  of  the  future 
of  Kal  ;  and  it  agrees  with  "Tn  j  §  IV.  21.   Note  2d. 


H 


$'4  A  tIEBREW  GRAMMAR. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  READING  OF  HEBREW, 

It  has  been  aflerted,  thit  all  the  letters  of  the  Hebrew  alphabet 
are  confonants,  and  t^at  the  vowels  are  marked  by  certain  figos* 
called  points  :  as,  kametz  or  kamets,-  ^,  ba  ;  patach  or  pathah,  ^r 

T 

be  ;  chateph-patach  or  hateph-pathah,  ^  ,   a,  &c. 

But,  what  reafon  can  be  offered,  why  x  ;n  Greek,  and  a  in  En- 
glifh  and  Latin,  (hould  be  acknowled-ged  as  vowels,  while  x  in  He- 
brew is  not,  although  the  fornaer  have  their  (hape  and  place  in  the 
alphabet  from  the  latter  ? 

K,  rr,  1,  S  aiid  :},  together  viath  the  found  of  e,  according  to  the 
diredlions  in  Sefh.  I.  of  this  Grammar,  furnifh  us  with  all  the  vowel- 
founds  which  are  requifite  to  read  H:brew  with  accuracy.  This 
mode  of  reading  is  very  fimple  and  eafy ;  whereas  the  Maforetic 
pointing  has  unneceifarily  multiplied  the  inflexions  of  nouns  and 
verbsj  and,  on  various  accounts,  is  difficult  and  perplexing. 


^he  following  ohfervatiom  are  taken  frdm   Wilson'^s 
Elements  of  Hebrew  Grammar. 

.  This  method  of  ufmg  marks  for  vowels  was  adopted  by  a  fet  of 
Jewifh  critics,  called  Maforites,*  who  flourifhed  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Chriflian  sera. 

Thefe  men  bellowed  much  pains  upon  the  text  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament,  particularly  that  portion  of  it  which  was  named  the  law. 
Their  labor,  indeed,  did  not  penetrate  very  deep.  They  afford  us 
little  or  no  affiftance  in  the  invelligation  of  the  true  fenfe  of  Scrip- 
tur;e. 

In  vain  do  we  feek  from  them  the  folution  of  difficulties,  the 
elucidation  of  obfcure  pafTages,  or  any  ufeful  information  concern- 
ing the  manners  and  cuftoms  of  their  anceftors.  Their  time  was 
chiefly  fpent  in  giving  directions  about  the  pronunciation  or  fpell- 
ing  of  the  language,  about  the  manner  in  which  it  ought  to  be 
read,  in  numbering  the  fyllables  and  words  of  particular  books,  and 
in  attempting  to  unfold  the  myfferies,  or  rather  fuperftitious  fables, 


*  The  name  is  borrowed  from  a  word  tliat  fignifies /raii/Zcw.     Mafora,  3r 
©ritic  on  the  text  of  the  Old  Teftament,  principally  found^^d  on  traditioii. 


A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR.  55 

hid  under  the  veil  o(  inverted,  enlarged,  or  d'lminijhed  letters.  Their 
attempts  to  affix  points  or  marks  to  the  Hebrew  letters,  with  an  in- 
tention to  fupply  the  defefts  of  vowel-letters  in  the  original  text, 
appeared  in  the  Jifth  century.  Thefe  attempts  continued  to  in- 
creafe  till  about  the  ten(h,  at  which  period,  it  is  generally  thought, 
this  art  attained  its  perfeftion.* 

The  matter  has  been  agitated  with  keennefs  and  acrimony. 
Heat  and  paflion  have  been  introduced  into  a  controverfy  of  little 
or  no  importance :  for,  whether  we  read  with  or  without  vowel- 
points,  the  fenfe  and  meaning  of  the  language  muft  entirely  depend 
upon  the  written  characters,  dcftitute  of  points  and  accents,  as  they 
ftill  remain  in  the  moft  ancient  and  authentic  manufcripts.  The 
Jews  have  never  fuffered  the  manufcripts,  which  are  preferved  in 
thefr  fynagogues  for  the  purpofes  of  religious  worfliip,  to  be  dif- 
figured  with  points. 

Every  one  acquainted  with  Hebrew  knows,  that  the  whole  ftruc- 
ture  of  the  language  is  independent  of  them,  and  can  be  much  more 
cafily  learned,  and  much  better  underftood,  without  than  with 
them.-|- 

The  vowel-marks  are  no  indications  to  us  of  the  antient 
founds  of  the  language.  \^See  Bi/hop  Hare's  Prolegomena  in 
Pfalmos.~\  Thefe  founds  have  vaniflied,  like  the  breath  of 
thofe  who  uttered  them  ;  and  no  tradition  could  either  arreft  or 
tranfmit  them.  We  are  at  liberty  to  invent  founds  for  ourfelves, 
and  no  objedlion  can  lie  againft  this  expedient,  if  we  employ  them 
only  for  the  purpofes  of  pronunciation,  not  to  alter  the  radical 
parts  of  the  words,  not  to  determine  their  fignification,  nor  to  con- 
found the  original  principles  of  the  grammar,  as  the  inventors  of 
points  have  done. 

It  is  a  favorite  argument  with  the  advocates  for  the  vowel-points, 
that  without  their  affiftance,  the  fenfe  of  a  vaft  number  of  words 
would  be  left  in  a  fluftuating  and  uncertain  ttate — that,  on  this  ac- 
count, they  are  abfolutely  ncceffary  to  prevent  ambiguities  in  the 
language. 

A  very  little  refleftion  will  (hew  the  weaknefs  of  this  argument. 
It  is  the  unavoidable  fate  of  all  languages  to  be  liable  to  ambigui-i 
ties.  The  Hebrew  is  not  more  fo  than  any  other.  But  thefe  am- 
biguities muft  be  refolved  by  an  inveftigation  of  the  fenfe  of  the 
period,  by  confidering  the  difpofition  and  conneftion  of  the  words, 
and  not  by  points  and  marks,  which  particular  perfons  may  im- 
pofe.:(: 


*  Pages  30.  and  31.  third  Edit,  Edinburgh. 

t  Page  35. 

\  Pages  61.  and  62. 


56  A  HEBREW  GRAMMAR. 

To  ihefe  I  add  the  following  obfervations  of  Ajiias  Mon- 
TANuSi  ^^^  compiler  of  the  Interlinear  Bible. 

Qua:  punftis  five  vocalibus  exemplaria  carent,  variam  kftionem 
admittere  poffunt,  idque  non  promifcue  et  paflim,  verum  quibufdam 
in  locis  ac  verbis  accidit,  ex  varia  adjunftione  vocalium  in  fcripto 
vel  pronunciatione.  Ut  fi  quifpiam  his  Latinis  literis  f  r  p  n  t  min- 
terferat  vocales  e  e  e,  ferpenlem  efficiet ;  fi  vero  poftremo  loco  u  po- 
nat,  dicet  ferpenfum.* 


*  Vid.  Benedidli  Arix  Montani  de  varia  Hebraicoriun  Libronim  Scriptione 
ct  ledione  Comment. 


FINIS. 


.«*« 


^: 


"?IS*". 


-■WW 

m 


:^:m^- 


^ 


^■< 


•^♦=r' 


JtoBoS:' 


"•^'"*%fi 


■^^-^^ 


:.J>- 


'-^^Ar^rv.' 


^ 


